After a 25-year break, Finland saw a women’s basketball team in a competition covering the whole of Europe.
20:27•Updated 20:40
Kotka saw a historic basketball match when Peli-Karhut started the European women’s second level competition in the Eurocup with a home match against Romania’s Constanta. Peli-Karhut fought well, but Constanta finally claimed an away victory with a score of 95–85.
After a 25-year break, Finland will now see a women’s basketball team in a competition covering the whole of Europe. Tapiolan Honka from Espoo played in the fall of 1999 in the Ronchetti Cup, the second European competition at the time. No Finnish team has been seen in the current Eurocup.
Europelit attracted three national team level players Linda-Lotta Lehtoranta, Elina Koskimienen and By Anissa Pounds To Peli-Kahrui. The whole trio played in Germany last season. Koskimies and Lehtoranta will also face last year’s team Keltern in the Eurocup group.
PeKa started well and led the first few minutes. Towards the end of the first quarter, the visiting team caught up and led 25–24 after ten minutes. At the end of the second quarter, Constanta jumped out to a 47–38 halftime lead.
PeKa came back to the field after the break cheerfully. It took the period 9–0 and tied the match. However, the away team gradually got away again. It led 82-70 with a good three and a half minutes to go, but PeKa still came within five points of Pounds and Lauren Heard’s with baskets. Ioana Ghizilan however, the three-pointer took the Romanians to a decisive 87–79 lead.
Heard was Peka’s top scorer with 21 points. Pounds scored 17 points. Eve Braslis sank 12 points, Lehtoranta, Koskimies and Jade Williams 11. Constanta’s best was Zada Williams with 22 points.
PeKa’s next match in the Eurocup is away against the Belgian Castors Braine on October 16.