Roundup: Taurasi departs and a setback for Schio
MUNICH (EuroLeague/EuroCup Women) – Diana Taurasi parted with UMMC Ekaterinburg over the weekend and Italian powerhouse Famila Schio suffered a rare domestic defeat.
Taurasi's time with UMMC is over
EuroLeague Women megastar Diana Taurasi will not step out with UMMC after both parties confirmed she was leaving the juggernauts. It came as no major surprise, with the guard having struggled for both form and fitness throughout the current campaign.
She will be sorely missed and things went from bad to worse for Ekaterinburg as they were beaten 77-68 by title rivals Dynamo Kursk in the Russian Premier League, as Angel McCoughtry posted 22 points and Nnemkadi Ogwumike netted herself 12 points and 15 boards.
Elsewhere, Nadezhda cruised past Inventa Kursk 93-59 with Brionna Jones going 7-of-8 for 18 points, while Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje impressed in a tight 72-68 road win at Dynamo Novosibirsk.
Schio suffer only second loss of the season
There was a surprise for Pierre Vincent and his Famila Schio side in the Italian League, as the leaders were edged out 68-66 in a nail-biter at Fila San Martino despite 25 points and 10 rebounds from Isabelle Yacoubou.
Second place Reyer Venezia closed the gap and took advantage with Ashley Walker fueling a 76-60 home win against Saces Mapei Napoli after adding 16 points. Fellow EuroCup Women Round of 16 participants Passalacqua Ragusa sunk Broni 68-53, as Aston Ndour racked up a 16-point and 16-rebound double-double.
Leedham-Warner lights it up for ESBVA-LM
Johannah Leedham-Warner stood out with 20 points and 10 rebounds for ESBVA-LM as their hot form continued in a commanding 66-50 success over Basket Landes. They stay at the top of the standings alongside Tango Bourges Basket, who had to work hard to see off Roche Vendee 92-83 as Valeriane Ayayi erupted for 25 points.
😍#PerfLFB 💪 de la J10 ➡️ https://t.co/Hn40ghrdRc
— LFB (@basketlfb) December 18, 2017
3⃣ @joey_leedham13 de @ESBVALM (27 d'éval) 🇬🇧
2⃣ @ShonaThorburn des @DeferlantesNRB (27 d'éval) 🇬🇧 / 🇨🇦
1⃣ @valeriane_ayayi du @BourgesBasket et @FRABasketball (28 d'éval) 🇫🇷.
Ses meilleures actions en 📹👇 pic.twitter.com/gJ1bpMJiz6
Carolo Basket lost ground as they went down 69-60 at Tarbes, Saint-Amand suffered a 74-72 reverse at Nice and the pain continues for BLMA who were edged out 67-64 at Lyon with 17 points and 9 rebounds from Courtney Hurt not enough to save them.
Exciting three-way race in Turkey
A trio of teams are all locked on 9-1 in the Turkish League, including Yakin Dogu Universitesi who crushed Istanbul Universitesi 88-45 in their derby game as Bahar Caglar and Sandrine Gruda recorded double-doubles.
Fenerbahce had no worries in gliding past Samsun 82-61 with a combined 40 points from Kelsey Plum and Tilbe Senyurek, while Hatay still only have a single loss to their name after beating Bornova 105-48.
Galatasaray had more agony as they fell to a lowly 7th place in the standings after being beaten 72-71 at Agu Spor and there was a setback for Mersin who lost 87-80 at Botas. Erica Wheeler fired 22 points to keep Besiktas rolling upwards in a 98-59 home floor win against Adana Aski.
Wisla deliver blow to Sleza Wroclaw
Wisla CANPACK are still the outright leaders in Poland after they won their top three clash against reigning champions Sleza Wroclaw 74-65, with Maurita Reid coming up with a dynamic 14 points, 8 steals, 7 assists and 5 rebounds.
Artego Bydgoszcz are in second position after overpowering MKK Siedlce 86-64 due to 21 points from Jennifer O'Neil. CCC Polkowice stormed past Poznan 103-53, with six double-figure scorers and Energa Torun took an impressive 82-68 victory at Gorzow as Kelley Cain starred with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Elsewhere in Europe
Perfumerias Avenida and Spar Citylift Girona still occupy the top two spots in Liga Femenina with Erika Souza dropping 17 points to take the former past Bembibre 77-65 and another Brazilian, Nadia Colhado offering 18 points and 10 rebounds as Girona waltzed past Quesos El Pastor 89-50.
KSC Szekszard made it a perfect 10-0 in Hungary after Erica McCall top-scored with 17 points as the defending champions overwhelmed PEAC-Pecs 86-50.
German powerhouse TSV 1880 Wasserburg finished their domestic calendar year on a sour note as the DBBL co-leaders went down 68-62 at Aibling.
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