In the week before Christmas, six games were played in the Women's Baltic Basketball League (WBBL). Kibirkstis Vilnius (8-2) won twice, while LCC International University (10-2), Neptunas-Amberton (9-3), RSU (7-6), and Liepaja/LSSS (6-6) each won one game.
Kibirkštis started the week with a tough win over Aistes-LSMU (6-4) in Kaunas, 81-74. After three quarters, Kibirkstis led 71-55, but Aistes-LSMU fought back in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to five points with one minute left. Kibirkstis held on for the win, however.
Five Kibirkstis players scored in double figures, led by Dalia Donskichyte with 17 points. Ugne Grigaliunaite added 14 points, and Martyna Petrenaite, Egle Zabotkaite, and Justina Miknaite each had 12 points.
Gintare Paulauskaite led Aistes-LSMU with 25 points, eight rebounds, and 33 efficiency points.
In their other game, Kibirkstis did not face any resistance from TTT Juniores (0-10) in Riga and won 92-52.
Kibirkstis has now won 5 games in a row since Sandra Linkeviciene took over as the head coach.
Both Klaipeda teams defeated the Siauliai-Vilmers (7-4), who were missing several players. LCC International University defeated the opponents at home 85-54, while Neptunas-Amberton won away 78-68.
RSU defeated TTT Juniores 85-56 without much difficulty, and the toughest battle took place in Liepaja between the local team and Panevezys. The visiting team led 42-32 at one point, but they could not hold on to their lead. After four quarters, the score was tied at 62-62, so the teams had to decide the winner in overtime.
During the extra five minutes, the hosts demonstrated cooler nerves and won the game 76-72.
Madara Smite led Liepaja/LSSS with 19 points, six rebounds, five assists, and seven steals. Daniela Grigorjeva added 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Even two players from the Panevezys team recorded double-doubles. Kriste Timofejeva, who returned to the court after an injury, scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while Urte Bukauskaite collected 13 points and 12 rebounds.
There is only one game remaining in the WBBL in 2023. On December 30, Kibirkstis will host Siauliai-Vilmers in Vilnius.
