The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

JONQUEL Jones continues to be a major asset to the Bosnia and Herzegovina women’s national basketball team and led the side to their second consecutive win in the current window of FIBA EuroBasket 2021 qualification.

Jones recorded 26 points and 16 rebounds in Bosnia’s 80-61 win over Switzerland Sunday. Bosnia moved to the top of Group C in this window behind Jones’ 27.5 points and 17.5 rebounds per game. “The match was great. All the players played well and did their roles,” Jones said following the win.

Jones finished with 29 points and 16 rebounds to lead Bosnia and Herzegovina to a 70-69 win over Russia in the first round of qualification.

“We gave one hundred per cent, now we had ‘little’ help from Jonquel Jones,” Marica Gajic said.

“She has fit the team phenomenally and I want to thank everyone for their support against Russia, and I believe that the look at women’s basketball will change. Especially after this game.”

At the club level, Jones is a member of Russian Premier League powerhouse UMMC Ekaterinburg this offseason as the team looks to repeat as EuroLeague champions.

After she missed the first four games of the season, she made her debut on November 3 with 11 points and seven rebounds over Spartak.

A stacked UMMC Ekaterinburg roster also includes several WNBA stars - Finals MVP Emma Meessemen of the Washington Mystics, Brittney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury, Allie Quigley and Courtney Vandersloot, both of the Chicago Sky.

Last season, Jones’ first with the club, Ekaterinburg captured their second consecutive and fifth EuroLeague title with a 91-67 win over Dynamo Kursk in Sopron, Hungary.

She appeared in eight games averaging 19.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. She shot 60 per cent from the field, 52 per cent from three-point range and 80 per cent from the free throw line.