D1 Round 15 (Regular Season): #1 Astana Tigers are defeated by Aktobe

There are only two more rounds left in the Regular Season in D1. Here is the last round review presented by LBM Management.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Astana Tigers (15-4) at the home court on Tuesday night. Hosts were edged by third ranked Aktobe (15-4) 56-53. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Astana Tigers. It was a key game for the second position in the league. Aktobe forced 21 Astana Tigers turnovers. It was a great evening for American guard Emily Lytle (180-1997, college: Virginia Tech) who led her team to a victory scoring 16 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Russian power forward Daria Polnikova (188-1994) helped adding 11 points and 6 rebounds. The best for the losing side was the former international center Anna Bezgodova (192-1992) with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 12 rebounds. Aktobe have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to second place, which they share with defeated Astana Tigers. Aktobe is looking forward to face Okzhetpes (#5) in Kokshetay in the next round. Astana Tigers will play on the road against Caspiy Aktau and are hoping to win this game.
The game between Top Four teams took place in Almaty. 4th placed host Tomiris (10-9) were smashed by first ranked Turan (16-3) 82-63. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Tomiris. It was an exceptional evening for Ukrainian power forward Ganna Rulyova (183-1986, agency: BIG) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 31 points and 17 rebounds. Inga Manucharyan accounted for 18 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists. Turan's coach Vitaliy Lopatin allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. American guard Emily Lytle (180-1997, college: Virginia Tech) came up with a double-double by scoring 16 points, 17 rebounds and 5 assists for Tomiris in the defeat. Turan have an impressive series of six victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 16-3 record. Tomiris at the other side keep the fourth position with nine games lost. Turan will play against Irtysh (#7) in Pavlodar in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Tomiris will play on the road against Barsy Atyrau and hope to get back on the winning track.
The game in Pavlodar was also quite interesting. Sixth ranked Caspiy Aktau (8-11) played at the court of 7th ranked Irtysh (3-16). Caspiy Aktau managed to secure a 8-point victory 99-91 on Tuesday. The best player for the winners was Alexandra Petelina who scored 25 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was Valeriya Kapitonova who recorded 16 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Caspiy Aktau moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Okzhetpes. Irtysh lost their seventh game in a row. They keep the seventh position with 16 games lost. Caspiy Aktau will meet at home higher ranked Astana Tigers (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Irtysh will play against the league's leader Turan (#1) in Turkestan and hope to secure a win.

In the last game of round 15 bottom-ranked Barsy Atyrau was destroyed by Okzhetpes on the opponent's court 84-28.

The Round Review is presented by LBM Management. A full-service agency focused on Women's basketball sphere and working worldwide. A global and ethical quality service.

Okzhetpes - Barsy Atyrau 84-28

Rather expected game in Kokshetay where 8th ranked Barsy Atyrau (1-18) was crushed by fifth ranked Okzhetpes (8-11) 84-28 on Tuesday. Okzhetpes held Barsy Atyrau to an opponent 17.9 percent shooting from the field compared to 49.3 percent accuracy of the winners. Okzhetpes forced 27 Barsy Atyrau turnovers and outrebounded them 52-28 including a 36-19 advantage in defensive rebounds. Okzhetpes looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists comparing to just 8 passes made by Barsy Atyrau's players. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Okzhetpes made 7 blocks. The best player for the winners was the former international power forward Nadezhda Yakovleva (183-2003) who scored 12 points and 7 rebounds. Russian guard Ulyana Titova (168-2003) chipped in 15 points. Okzhetpes' coach Boris Fatkulin felt very confident using 11 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the other side the best for losing team was point guard Darya Vinogradova (171-2004) who recorded 8 points and 10 rebounds and forward Angelina Mihaylova (187-1994) added 6 points respectively. Okzhetpes maintains fifth place with 8-11 record, which they share with Caspiy Aktau. Barsy Atyrau lost their fifteenth game in a row. They stay dead last with 18 lost games. Okzhetpes will meet league's second-placed Aktobe on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Barsy Atyrau will play against Tomiris (#4) and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Barsy Atyrau: V.Darya 8+10reb+2ast, A.Mihaylova 6+4reb+1ast, Z.Perizat 5+3reb+2ast, M.Asel 4+1reb+1ast, B.Symbat 3+1reb, T.Kurbanay 2+3reb+1ast
Okzhetpes: T.Ulyana 15+4reb+1ast, Y.Nadezhda 12+7reb+1ast, K.Goncharuk 10+4reb+6ast, K.Khamitova 9+5reb+5ast, B.Zoya 8+4reb+2ast, K.Milana 6+12reb+2ast

Astana Tigers - Aktobe 53-56

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Astana Tigers (15-4) at the home court on Tuesday night. Hosts were edged by third ranked Aktobe (15-4) 56-53. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Astana Tigers. It was a key game for the second position in the league. Aktobe forced 21 Astana Tigers turnovers. It was a great evening for American guard Emily Lytle (180-1997, college: Virginia Tech) who led her team to a victory scoring 16 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Russian power forward Daria Polnikova (188-1994) helped adding 11 points and 6 rebounds. The best for the losing side was the former international center Anna Bezgodova (192-1992) with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 12 rebounds and the former international forward Tamara Kuzmina-Yagodkina (182-1990) scored 11 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Four Astana Tigers players scored in double figures. Aktobe have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to second place, which they share with defeated Astana Tigers. Aktobe is looking forward to face Okzhetpes (#5) in Kokshetay in the next round. Astana Tigers will play on the road against Caspiy Aktau and are hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Astana Tigers: A.Alishauskayte-Lopatina 14+4reb+2ast, A.Bezgodova 12+12reb, T.Kuzmina-Yagodkina 11+6reb+5ast, Z.Kurazova 10+4reb+6ast, D.Koroleva 4+2reb+1ast, O.Nurbaeva 2+1reb
Aktobe: E.Lytle 16+7reb+5ast, O.Aksenova 12+3reb, D.Polnikova 11+6reb+2ast, O.Bagmet 5+2reb+3ast, A.Varaksina 4+3reb, U.Kudrevtseva 4+4reb

Irtysh - Caspiy Aktau 91-99

The game in Pavlodar was also quite interesting. Sixth ranked Caspiy Aktau (8-11) played at the court of 7th ranked Irtysh (3-16). Caspiy Aktau managed to secure a 8-point victory 99-91 on Tuesday. Caspiy Aktau forced 24 Irtysh turnovers. Strangely Irtysh outrebounded Caspiy Aktau 46-28 including a 18-7 advantage in offensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was point guard Alexandra Petelina (168-1998) who scored 25 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Russian guard Alina Shakirova (170, college: UNBC) chipped in 21 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was the former international forward Valeriya Kapitonova (176-2001) who recorded 16 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists and point guard Xeniya Abdurashitova (168-2001) added 15 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Caspiy Aktau moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Okzhetpes. Irtysh lost their seventh game in a row. They keep the seventh position with 16 games lost. Caspiy Aktau will meet at home higher ranked Astana Tigers (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Irtysh will play against the league's leader Turan (#1) in Turkestan and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Irtysh: V.Kapitonova 16+6reb+5ast, X.Abdurashitova 15+5reb+7ast, A.Jackson 14+6reb+3ast, U.Saltanat 11+3reb+4ast, G.Yekaterina 11+2reb+3ast, Z.Tamila 8+7reb
Caspiy Aktau: P.Alexandra 25+5reb+6ast, G.Elizaveta 24+7reb, A.Shakirova 21+7reb+6ast, P.Tamar 14+2reb+5ast, A.Saitova 9+1reb+2ast, A.Ilyasova 5+6reb+1ast

Tomiris - Turan 63-82

The game between Top Four teams took place in Almaty. 4th placed host Tomiris (10-9) were smashed by first ranked Turan (16-3) 82-63. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Tomiris. Turan forced 24 Tomiris turnovers and outrebounded them 38-27 including 27 on the defensive glass. Turan players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists. It was an exceptional evening for Ukrainian power forward Ganna Rulyova (183-1986, agency: BIG) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 31 points and 17 rebounds. Armenian guard Inga Manucharyan (177-2000) accounted for 18 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists for the winning side. Turan's coach Vitaliy Lopatin allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. American guard Emily Lytle (180-1997, college: Virginia Tech) came up with a double-double by scoring 16 points, 17 rebounds and 5 assists and point guard Altynshash Zinabdin (165-1999) added 21 points respectively for Tomiris in the defeat. Turan have an impressive series of six victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 16-3 record. Tomiris at the other side keep the fourth position with nine games lost. Turan will play against Irtysh (#7) in Pavlodar in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Tomiris will play on the road against Barsy Atyrau and hope to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Tomiris: Z.Altynshash 21+2reb+1ast, E.Mitina 17+1reb+4ast, K.Yana 16+17reb+5ast, E.Shahida 6+2reb+1ast, M.Milana 3+2reb, B.Dariya 0
Turan: G.Rulyova 31+17reb+3ast, I.Manucharyan 18+8reb+10ast, V.Voloshyna 15+1reb+3ast, E.Abikeyeva 9+4ast, R.Gavriluk 8+4reb+2ast, R.Akmaral 1