Kitija Laksa Scores 24 as Italian Champions Win in EuroLeague Women

In the EuroLeague Women, Europe's top women's club basketball competition, reigning Italian champions Famila Schio beat Serbia's Crvena zvezda 84:72 on 22 October. The standout was Latvian forward Kitija Laksa, who scored 24 points. It was the Italian side's second straight win at the start of the new season.

A week earlier, Schio, coached by Giorgos Dikeoulakos, opened its campaign with an away victory over Istanbul's Galatasaray. After two rounds, the team leads Group B with two wins, while Crvena zvezda, coached by Marina Maljkovic, is second with one win and one loss.

Laksa's performance

Laksa made all five of her two-point attempts, four of six three-pointers and both free throws. She also grabbed four rebounds, dished out one assist, made one steal and blocked one shot. Her efficiency rating was 26 and her plus-minus was 16.

As in Istanbul a week earlier, the Latvian's best stretch came in the second half. After the break she hit all three of her three-pointers, all three two-point shots and both free throws, scoring 17 points.

Other players

Five Schio players reached double figures. Marjama Kulibali had 14 points and 13 rebounds, Marija Conde added 13, and Carlotta Zanardi and Costanza Verona each scored 10.

Crvena zvezda's roster includes Australian-Latvian Lauren Scherf. She scored eight points, making all four of her two-point attempts, and added six rebounds and three assists, with an efficiency rating of 13.