EuroCup Women Quarter-Finals preview: Friday 10 March
MUNICH (EuroLeague Women) – We look forward to the second leg of the EuroCup Women Quarter-Finals when a quartet of clubs will stamp their pass to the last four of the competition.
ESBVA-LM are on the back foot after they were narrowly beaten on their home floor 68-67 by Yakin Dogu Universitesi, having led for much of the first-leg in Villeneuve.
"We lost by one point, but everything is still possible," insisted ESBVA-LM and Les Bleus star, Valerine Ayayi.
"This is just one game and we still have to play this next leg in Turkey."
Kayla McBride looks like the player that will need stopping after the swingman poured in 18 points and claimed a double-double with 12 rebounds.
She stated: "ESBVA-LM have a very good team coming from EuroLeague Women and it was a hard-fought battle.
"The victory was in our favor, but the game was tight and so we know it's not over and that we have to win this game at home."
Good Angels Kosice will also be stepping out in Istanbul and they look favorites to advance after their terrific 73-62 success against Galatasaray in the first leg.
"It was a very tough game - both mentally and physically," mused Kosice play-caller, Peter Jankovic.
"We knew Galatasasary would play aggressively and we took time to adjust to this style. Then we found the way to the basket of our opponents and we made the 11-point win step by step.
"This difference could be important for this next game, as we expect it to be a very hard and difficult second leg match."
Işıl Alben'in ilk çeyrek sonunda Good Angels Kosice'ye yolladığı buzzer 👀 pic.twitter.com/rlWkH040NW
— C.Rookie 🌿 (@CoachRookie) March 8, 2017
The hosts will be sweating on the fitness of Moriah Jefferson who they lost during the first leg and she is doubtful for the game. However, they will have Isil Alben to call the plays if she doesn't make it.
One team who looked nailed in to advance are Bellona Agu, who will play in front of their own supporters in Kayseri holding an 85-65 advantage against BLMA - and with head coach Ayhan Avci looking forward.
He said: "Things were made easier for us in the first game because they had two key players missing, but we still had to be serious.
"We were confronted with different problems to what we normally have to face in the Turkish league, and we could have actually defended better.
"Now we want to [finish the job] and go on and win the competition."
Hatay will also be strongly fancied to push on and reach the last four, having done the hard work on the road in Krakow where they beat Wisla Can-Pack 69-57.
However, there is a note of caution for the hosts, since Wisla took one of their best wins of the EuroLeague Women Regular Season on Turkish soil in Mersin.
EuroCup Women Quarter-Finals (Second Legs)
Galatasaray v Good Angels Kosice
Hatay BSB v Wisla Can-Pack
Bellona Agu v BLMA
Yakin Dogu Universitesi v ESBVA-LM
FIBA
