Mersin, Landes and Carolo Basket jump towards Round of 8
MUNICH (EuroCup Women) - Mersin, Basket Landes and Flammes Carolo Basket will feel like they have one foot planted in the next stage of EuroCup Women after big first leg wins in the Round of 16.
Mersin were the most impressive winners, inflicting a first defeat of the season on the previously flawless TTT Riga. They did it in style too, collecting an 88-70 home triumph behind a stellar double-double of 24 points and 14 boards from Krystal Thomas. Asena Yelcin also produced in the backcourt with 18 points and 8 assists.
Basket Landes got off to a quick start in their home clash with Good Angels Kosice and never looked back. They eventually recorded a 69-55 win that was founded on a team-high 17 points from Cierra Bravard and a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds from Miranda Ayim.
Flammes Carolo Basket also have a significant cushion for their game next week, with the added bonus of it being on home soil. They cruised to an 83-62 success at Artego Bydgoszcz with Brazilian forward Clarissa Dos Santos unstoppable with a wonderful 21 points and 18 rebounds.
Sleza Wroclaw might have also been dreaming of a big lead too, but a late flurry from Hungarian champions, KSC Szekszard cut their advantage from 15 points to just 77-72 on the buzzer. The winning side were paced by 22 points from Romanian, Sonia Ursu.
It was a very similar case for the visiting Virtus Eirene Ragusa who had to settle for a 76-72 success at Basket Gdynia - despite leading by double-figures for long spells.
Importante vittoria in @EuroCupWomen, soprattutto in vista del ritorno fra una settimana al PalaMinardi! 72-76 il finale, prestazione super da 29 pts e 10 reb per @NdouraStou 💪🏻 #vedosolobiancoverde 🦅💚🦅💚 pic.twitter.com/BEgiimMviR
— Virtus Eirene RG (@VirtusEirene_RG) January 4, 2018
Still, the Italians will be pleased to have picked up a road win as Astou Ndour showed out with 29 points and 10 rebounds.
There was a roller-coaster affair in Athens between Olympiacos and Spar Citylift Girona and it was the local favorites who prevailed 65-60.
Earlier in the day, Enisey Krasnoyarsk kept their hopes alive after punching back late against Hatay, while Reyer Venezia will be strongly fancied to progress after blowing away Saint-Amand on Wednesday night.
FIBA
