Berlin Bears Edge Miami Mavericks 116-109 Behind Petrova's Late Surge
Petrova's Precision Lifts Bears Past Mavericks in High-Scoring Affair
MIAMI – The Miami Mavericks fought valiantly but ultimately fell to the visiting Berlin Bears in a thrilling World Pro League contest Tuesday night, with the Bears securing a 116-109 victory. A clutch stretch by Anya Petrova in the fourth quarter proved decisive, as Berlin spoiled Miami’s home opener in Season 2.
The game was a back-and-forth affair from the tip-off, with neither team able to establish a significant advantage for long. The Mavericks’ Elara Dixon was a force for Miami, pouring in a game-high 30 points and keeping her team within striking distance. However, Berlin’s balanced attack and sharp shooting from beyond the arc proved too much to overcome.
The Bears began to pull away in the third quarter, fueled by the sharp shooting of Kun Zhang and the all-around play of Anya Lindgren. Miami responded through Dixon and timely buckets from Kai Blackwood, who also dished out five assists. But as the game entered its final minutes, Anya Petrova took over, hitting crucial jumpers and drawing fouls to seal the win for Berlin.
“We left it all out there tonight,” said Mavericks guard Isabella Kim. “They made some big shots when it mattered most, and we’ll learn from this and come back stronger.”
Berlin’s coach, Stefan Klein, praised his team’s resilience. “This was a tough road win,” Klein stated. “Miami played hard, but our guys executed down the stretch. Anya Petrova was phenomenal in the fourth.” Petrova finished with 11 points and 8 rebounds, including four key points in the final two minutes.
Key Notes:
- Elara Dixon led all scorers with 30 points for the Miami Mavericks.
- Berlin Bears shot an impressive 42.2% from three-point range.
- The Mavericks recorded 29 assists on their 43 made field goals.
- Anya Petrova added 11 points and a game-high 8 rebounds for the Bears.