Russia Humbles Belarus

Russia 69 – Belarus 59

Russia came in the court with a starting five made from back up players. Not being worried by an hypotethical victory from Belarus, that took advantage of Russia slow game to lead 16-4 after the first quarter. Russia scored just one field goal in the game, scored by Liubov Paskalenko with 4:20 remaining (7-3)

Olga Shuneykina put a little more interest in the second. She put Anastasia Logunova in and she sparked a 15-1 run capped by five straight points from Anastasia Shilova which put Russia in front 19-17 with 4:55 remaining for the break. Belarus got back in front, 21-19, after two freebies from Yuliya Zhuk but Anastasia Shilova  scored the three and sparked a 9-2 run with 2:40 for the interval that lead Russia into the break in front, 28-23.

In the third Russia slowed down again and used mostly its back up players again. With 32-26 up for Russia they relaxed and received an 8-0 run –5 points scored by Karalina Padshivalava- which put Belarus back in front 34-32 after 3:13 in the quarter. Veronika Dorosheva replied inmediately for Russia from the perimeter to pub Russia up again, 35-34, in the ensuing possession.

Belarus made then a 6-0 run to get in front 40-35 with 3:50 remaining. After thar none of the teams scored in a two minutes span, after which both teams traded until the end of the third, entering the fourth 45-41 for Aliksandr Shymkaviak’s team.

Russia decided to win the game in the fourth. Olga Shuneykina moved her go to players –Tarasova, Shilova, Dorosheva and Logunova- in and out of the court and les Belarus score just 6 points in the quarter –only two field goals- for 28 from the russians who win the game for a final score of 69-51 after playing at will during all the game.

Veronika Dorosheva had 18 pts and  15 boards, Anastasiya Shilova added 16 and 11 boards and Anastasia Logunova 15 and 9 rebounds.

Aliaksandra Zubrytskaya scored 11 pts for Belarus.