WABA 2: Maribor and Ilirija Impressive on Day Two in Graz

27 Sep 2026

Maribor cruised to a dominant 79-39 victory over Rudar 1903 after an unbelievable 21-0 opening run, while Ilirija used an outstanding 30-point contribution from their bench to overcome UBI Graz 79-68 in a thrilling showdown.

2026-27 WABA 2 League

Saturday, September 26 (Graz/Raiffesen Sportpark)

Maribor-Rudar 1903 79-39 (23-9, 15-11, 18-5, 23-14) FULL STATS FULL GAME VIDEO GALLERY

Maribor opened their second WABA 2 match in Graz with a blistering performance, cruising to a comfortable 79-39 victory over Rudar 1903.

The story of the game was written in the opening minutes. Maribor put on an absolute clinic on both ends of the floor, opening the game with a staggering 21-0 run. Rudar 1903 struggled against Maribor’s aggressive defense and couldn’t find the basket until Jelena Radojkovic finally broke the ice, scoring her team’s first points after 6:19 minutes of play.

By then, Maribor had already established a commanding lead that they would not relinquish. The home side displayed excellent team chemistry, dishing out 28 assists and forcing Rudar 1903 into 32 turnovers. Maribor was incredibly efficient inside the arc, shooting a phenomenal 71% (22/31) on two-point field goals, while also remaining perfect from the free-throw line (8/8).

Tiana Meglic Steharnik led Maribor with 13 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds, posting a game-high efficiency rating of 21. Neza Pobezin added 11 points, while Mia Jancic also scored in double digits with 10 points. Hana Jerkovic orchestrated the offense alongside Meglic Steharnik, matching her with 7 assists and 8 points.

For Rudar 1903, it was a tough night offensively as they shot just 27% from two-point range and 25% from beyond the arc. Natalija Spaic was the lone bright spot in double figures, finishing the game with 10 points and 4 rebounds.

UBI Graz-Ilirija 68-79 (21-23, 11-20, 18-17, 18-19) FULL STATS FULL GAME VIDEO GALLERY

Ilirija secured a hard-fought 79-68 victory against UBI Graz in an exciting WABA League matchup. Coach Ernest Novak’s team used an exceptional collective effort to break down their opponents in the second half, neutralizing a spectacular scoring run by the Austrian side’s opening unit.

The defining story of the matchup lay in the contrasting distribution of scoring. UBI Graz scored all 68 points exclusively through their starting five, leaving Coach Theresa Petricevic with zero offensive production from the bench. Conversely, Ilirija’s bench players stepped up massively to contribute 30 crucial points, providing the depth, energy, and scoring variety needed to turn the game around.

The turning point occurred midway through the second quarter. UBI Graz held their final lead of the game at 21-20 in the 13th minute. Responding immediately, Ilirija exploded for 10 consecutive points to spark a decisive 22-6 run. This offensive surge completely shifted the momentum, allowing the Slovenian squad to build a comfortable cushion that they successfully protected until the final buzzer.

Ilirija moved the ball well with 16 assists and controlled the boards, outrebounding Graz 43-32. Tina Tomsic led the scoring for the winning side with 17 points, followed by Hana Sambolic with 9, and a trio of players—Brina Sedminek, Mia Zeks, and bench spark plug Laura Medeot—who each contributed 10 and 9 points, respectively, to the balanced team effort.

Despite the loss, UBI Graz saw stellar individual performances from Simone Sill (21 points), Khrystyna Kulesha (20 points), and Jade Hill (19 points), but their heavy minutes and lack of bench support ultimately took a toll against Ilirija’s relentless depth.

Theresa Petricevic, Head Coach of UBI Graz: