The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

JONQUEL Jones and her UMMC Ekaterinburg Foxes continue to steamroll the competition in the Russian Premier League and advanced to the semifinals after they opened the playoffs with a pair of dominant wins.

The Foxes defeated Sparta and K 103-48 Sunday night to complete a two-game sweep of their best-of-three series in the RPL quarterfinals. UMMC took game one 85-74.

Jones did not appear in either game.

“I am happy to recover our rhythm after the EuroLeague hub. We were trying to use our physical conditions, improve our game level,” Foxes head coach Miguel Mendez said.

“We took all the goals and I am happy with the game.”

UMMC will face Nika in the semifinals, another best-of-three series. The top seeded Foxes will host game one, scheduled for April 6 at DIVS Arena in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

UMMC won both previous matchups between the two teams. Jones had 35 points and 13 rebounds in an 84-72 season opening win on October 6 and followed with 20 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks in a 99-42 win on January 6.

Through 10 RPL games, Jones averaged 19.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. In FIBA Euroleague play, UMMC advanced to the final four after a two-game sweep over familiar Russian Premier League foe, Dynamo Kursk, earlier this month. Jones averaged 9.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in the series.

UMMC Ekaterinburg finished the FIBA EuroLeague at 6-0 in Group C. Through those six games, Jones averaged 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. She also shot 74 percent from the field and a league leading 62 percent (8-13) on three point field goals.

The Euro semis will be hosted April 16 at Volkswagen Arena in Istanbul, Turkey. UMMC will face Turkey’s Fenerbahce Oznur Kablo.