Panathinaikos at Braine
BRAINE-L’ALLEUD, Belgium (Interstat) — Panathinaikos will carry a 6-1 record into its women’s professional basketball game at Braine on Wednesday, while the home side enters at 1-1.
Panathinaikos is coming off a 95-64 home win over Panathlitikos. The Greek club has won six of seven to open the season, including a 75-65 road win at San Giovanni and an 81-73 home win over Alba Berlin. Panathinaikos also has wins over Aris, Kavala and PAOK this season. Its lone loss was a 91-68 home defeat to Emlak. Among its other victories, Panathinaikos beat Aris 89-79 on the road, Kavala 108-62 on the road and PAOK 91-52 at home.
Sara Bejedi has been a player to watch for Panathinaikos. In the win at San Giovanni, she finished with 21 points, four rebounds, five assists and one block in 31 minutes. In the earlier win over Alba Berlin, Bejedi had 20 points, four rebounds and four assists in 27 minutes. Those performances have made her a central figure in the Panathinaikos attack as the visitor seeks another road result.
Braine is coming off a 75-68 road loss at Alba Berlin. Nyla Harris led Braine with 15 points, seven rebounds and one assist in 25 minutes. Melisa Brcaninovic added 13 points, four rebounds and four assists in 26 minutes, and Laile Dupont had nine points, four rebounds, four assists and one block in 27 minutes. Braine opened its season with a 78-75 home win over San Giovanni.
Harris also is a player to watch for Braine; she had eight points, four rebounds and one assist in 28 minutes in that win. Braine will need production from Harris and support from Brcaninovic and Dupont against a Panathinaikos team that has scored at a high rate during its strong start.
Panathinaikos is next scheduled to face Olympiacos, Alba Berlin, AEO Proteas Voulas, Athinaikos, San Giovanni, Giannina, Braine, Panseraikos, Amyntas and Kronos. Braine is next scheduled to face San Giovanni, Alba Berlin and Panathinaikos.
Panathinaikos has scored at least 75 points in each of its six wins, including a 108-point output at Kavala. Braine has scored 78 points in its win and 68 in its loss. The home side will be seeking its second win of the season, while Panathinaikos will try to maintain its strong start.
Interstat’s game simulator is projecting a final score of Panathinaikos 77, Braine 73.