11 October, 2022
16 April, 2023
1 Yvonne Anderson (TBB)
25/01/2023
Review
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Bourges keep hopes alive with dramatic win; Gustafson delivers first Olympiacos win

MUNICH (Germany) - Tango Bourges Basket celebrated a dramatic triumph to keep their Quarter-Finals hopes alive on Wednesday evening, while a stellar Megan Gustafson helped Olympiacos SFP to their first win.

Both ZVVZ USK Praha and Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding were hoping to book their respective places in the Quarter-Finals with wins, but it hinged on Valencia Basket Club taking their own berth as well by winning at Tango Bourges Basket. The Spanish side came close, but their impressive winning streak ended as Bourges won a dramatic game by 70-68.

The win boosts the prospects of Bourges taking a top four finish in Group A and they were fuelled by 19 points, 7 assists and 6 boards from Yvonne Anderson, who also sunk a clutch bucket. The French side are now 6-5, with Valencia falling back to 7-4.

 Praha produced a stylish performance as they cruised past BC Polkowice 92-57, with their opponents now looking like they may be running out of gas after their superb first half of the campaign. Praha blasted the game open with a mesmerizing 30-9 third period and the hosts couldn't recover.


Valeriane Vukosavljevic impressed for Praha with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, while Teja Oblak dished up a stunning 14 assists against her former employers and that is the most by any player in the competition this season.

Meanwhile, it was a case of 11th time lucky as Olympiacos SFP belatedly took a first win of the season. Their 10 game losing streak was snapped thanks to a brilliant first half and another stellar show from forward Megan Gustafson. She was the standout figure in a super 87-68 win against Atomeromu KSC Szekszard.


Gustafson harvested a brilliant 32 points and completed a double-double with 10 rebounds, also producing 3 steals and 2 blocks to show her importance at the defensive end of the floor too. 

Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding stretched their impressive record to 9-2 at the top of Group A by soaring past Virtus Segafredo Bologna 95-73. Their ninth straight win always looked likely after a red-hot start and with Emma Meesseman continuing her stunning shooting form - finishing with with 22 points after going 10 of 13 from the field.


There was great support from Alina Iagupova who finished with 19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists, with Breanna Stewart contributing a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds as she continues to be a big influence for her new club. Latvian winger Kitija Laksa was unfortunate to be on the losing team after netting a massive 29 points in defeat.

Sopron Basket left it late to take a nail-biting 62-60 win against Spar Girona, with a devastating 16-1 start to the last quarter turning the game on its head. The Group B leaders were below par for much of the game, but came alive in a big way to shift the momentum. 


Jelena Brooks was a massive difference-maker and the veteran forward weighed in with another pivotal offering as she posted 18 points and 6 rebounds. Spar Girona were led by 21 points from Brittney Sykes, with the playmaker having started the campaign in a Sopron vest.

Finally, Beretta Famila Schio are keeping the pressure up on Sopron in the quest to take top spot in Group B and an early surge of scoring allowed them to move past Basket Landes 85-71. Schio dropped 29 points in the opening quarter and maybe though they would have no cause to look back.


However, they had to use that cushion to fend off a second half recovery mission from the visitors, who played much better after the break and briefly threatened to cause an upset. Marina Mabrey led Schio with 21 points, making five triples in another good perimeter display from the Italians. Regan Magarity responded with 21 points for Landes.

Two more games take place on Thursday as the Gameday 11 action concludes.

FIBA