Opening Day
By Lior Klinger
After 2 false starts, a couple of near disqualifications and a long hold at
the blocks, the women's league is finally underway. There were four road
wins, but no surprises.
Bnei Yehuda 67 - Elizur Ramla 78
Ramla has been tapped as one of the main challengers this year, and came
back to face the team that stopped their playoff run in its tracks last
season. Ramla dominated the boards with the new acquisitions - Amber Hall,
Jackie Moore and Jaclyn Johnson. Tawona Alhaleem scored 13 pts in the first
half and helped keep Bnei Yehuda in the game. The score was 39-34 in favor
of the visitors. Ramla tightened its gripe on the game in the 2nd half and
increased the lead to double digits. The home team never gave up but their
efforts fell short.
For Ramla:
Jackie Moore - 17 pts, 9 rebs
Liron Cohen - 16 pts
Jaclyn Johnson - 15 pts
Amber Hall - 13 pts, 10 rebs
Natasha Branchikova - 13 pts
For Bnei Yehuda:
Tawona Alhaleem - 23 pts
Travesa Gant - 18 pts
Dragoslava Zakula - 9 pts
Blazenka Cipcic - 8 pts
Maccabi Ashdod 66 - Ramat Hasharon 87
An expected easy win for the defending champs over the newcomers from
Ashdod. The game opened with a 25-6 Ramat Hasharon run.
For Ramat Hasharon:
Tamar Maoz - 17 pts (2/4 2pt FGs, 4/9 3pt FGs, 1/1 FT), 5 rebs, 3 steals
Mirna Paunovic - 16 pts (4/8 FGs, 6/6 FTs), 7 rebs
Lidiya Varbanova - 16 pts (8/12 FGs), 5 rebs
Danielle McCulley - 14 pts (6/15 FGs, 2/2 FTs), 6 rebs
Ina Gourevich - 12 pts (5/8 FGs, 2/2 FTs)
Aluma Goren - 6 pts (3/6 FGs), 10 rebs
For Ashdod:
Crystal Givens - 19 pts (5/11 FGs, 9/12 FTs), 11 rebs
Kenya Larkin - 18 pts (2/5 2pt FGs, 4/11 3pt FGs, 2/2 FTs)
Vika Rudovski - 14 pts (5/12 FGs, 2/2 FTs)
Valerie Muoneke - 9 pts (3/16 FGs, 3/5 FTs), 9 rebs
Elizur Holon 70 - Hapoel Hifa/Motzkin 79
In a game that could have great impact on the religation this year,
Hifa/Motzkin got a big win on the road.
For Hifa/Motzkin:
Akeksandra Music - 23 pts
Ljiljana Latinovic - 17 pts
Adi Kindler - 13 pts
Jackie Higgins - 10 pts
For Holon:
Tatiana Gatich - 23 pts (excuse the spelling if I got it wrong)
Octavia Blue - 13 pts
Maccabi Raanana 49, Maccabi Ramat Hen 66
Raanana got the green light to play just hours before the game, but Ramat
Hen was more than ready. A 23-2 run to start the game ended all hopes for
the locals as Ramat Hen cruised. They held a 49-31 edge on the boards, and
Raanana's 4 for 21 3pt shooting certainly didn't help (Ramat Hen went 4 for
10).
For Ramat Hen:
Simone Edwards - 18 pts (6/14 FGs, 6/10 FTs), 20 rebs
Vicky Hall - 15 pts (7/14 FGs), 5 rebs, 5 assists
Rivi Grinboym - 13 pts (2/2 3pt FGs)
Tal Zalts - 12 pts (6/13 FGs), 5 rebs
Marianna Raguz - 10 pts
Monica Kovac - 0 pts, 6 assists, 5 rebs, 5 TOs
For Raanana:
Tatum Brown - 19 pts (9/12 FGs), 13 rebs
Nomi Kolodni - 11 pts, 4 assists
Nikki Thompkins - 6 pts (2/7 FGs), 3 assists
Nili Nataho - 6 pts (2/14 FGs, including 1/5 threes)
Player of round 1: Simone Edwards
With a massive double double of 18 & 20, Simone is eyeing the top scorer and
rebounder honours after being the runner up last year.
Round 1 - First Team:
Tamar Maoz: Stood out for Ramat Hasharon with 17 pts, 5 boards and 3 steals.
Liron Cohen: Reunited with coach Tal Natan, her confidence seems to be back
and she's got 16 points to show for it.
Tawona Alhaleem: The bright spot in Bnei Yehuda, Alhaleem collected 23 pts
and looked quite promising.
Jackie Moore: Had her way in Bnei Yehuda's paint, 17 pts & 9 rebounds.
Simone Edwards: Stormed back into league play, as good as ever.
Information reprinted with permission of Lior Klinger and Orli Klinger. Send an e-mail to be put on the mailing list.