Ivanovo vs. UMMC
YEKATERINBURG, Russia (Interstat) — A stark contrast in fortunes will be on display Monday when the undefeated UMMC hosts struggling Ivanovo in a Russian women’s professional basketball game.
UMMC, a perennial powerhouse, enters with a flawless 11-0 record across all competitions. Ivanovo, meanwhile, has found wins hard to come by, sitting at 2-7. The gulf between the teams was evident in their first meeting this season, a dominant 84-49 victory for UMMC in Ivanovo on Oct. 1.
The home team, based in Yekaterinburg, has been relentless. In their most recent outing, a 76-64 road win over Nadezhda on Nov. 30, UMMC showcased a balanced attack. Forward Megan Walker posted 14 points and nine rebounds, while point guard Alex Bentley led all scorers with 16 points and added six assists. Walker has been consistently productive, averaging 11 points and 7.5 rebounds over her last three games.
Ivanovo is looking to snap a three-game skid, most recently falling 70-65 at Enisey on Dec. 4. In that loss, forward Anastasya Rozova led the way with 14 points and seven rebounds. Rozova has been a bright spot, averaging 9.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game this season. She will need a major performance, alongside backcourt contributor Alexandra Eliseeva, to challenge UMMC’s stifling defense.
UMMC’s average margin of victory this season is over 23 points. Ivanovo has lost its last three games by an average of 15 points. The matchup pits the league’s most dominant outfit against a team searching for consistency and a signature win.
Following this game, UMMC will visit Dynamo Moscow on Dec. 12. Ivanovo’s next contest is at Neftyanik on Dec. 12.