MERSIN (Turkey) - Heading into the Quarter-Finals, the field in EuroCup Women has rarely been so wide open and here is why Cukurova Basketbol can continue to eye up the title.

Their next test will come by way of Famila Schio in the last eight of the tournament.

1. Alina Iagupova

One of the standout players in the European game, Iagupova has had another red-hot campaign and averaged 20.5 points, 6.1 assists and 5.1 boards per outing. An incredible driving force, a walking highlights reel and the centerpiece of this team. She remains the one player circled in thick pen on the scouting report before anyone else. Stopping her is quite another thing. Stand off and she will kill you in a heartbeat with her extensive shooting range, get too close and she will use her athleticism to power dribble past you and make a move to the bucket. It's hardly surprising that the WNBA has finally opened its door, with the star having been knocking on the door for many years. She has signed a deal to play for the Los Angeles Sparks - once she had no doubt lit it up with Ukraine at FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2019. Firstly though, Iagupova will continue to catapult Cukurova towards the top podium step of EuroCup Women.

2. A perfect 10

 
It has been a flawless Regular Season for Cukurova and they have continued in that winning vein ever since, which means their record is a perfect 10-0 - meaning they are the only unbeaten team in the tournament. Their success is also underlined in the statistical charts since they are top in scoring, field-goal shooting, three-point shooting, assists and efficiency. Plus, you have to hand it to them even more for not having tasted a league defeat in the highly rated and intensely competitive Turkish League. This kind of consistency is mind blowing - although they bombed out of the Turkish Cup last weekend without even reaching the Final. That said, maybe getting stung like that as favorites could provide a wake-up call and added motivation for EuroCup Women!

3. Multiple impact players

Even if we have Iagupova as the main reason they can win this competition due to her undoubted status as a special player, the biggest mistake anyone can make is to think of Cukurova as a one-player team. It could not be further from the truth, since they have multiple impact players who can all step up now we are heading down the season stretch. Belgian shooter Kim Mestdagh can take the game away from any opponent with her stunning shooting skills, Astou Ndour can bring some serious noise in the paint, Chelsea Gray is a difference-maker and what about Liudmyla Naumenko? The player nobody has talked about at all. The Ukraine national team forward has shot an amazing 65 percent this season, is averaging double digits and having the season of her life.

FIBA​