SAMSUN (EuroCup Women) - Current EuroCup Women champion Eshaya Murphy put on a pyrotechnic masterclass on Wednesday night, coming close to completing a rare quadruple-double.

Playing for Samsun Canik Belediye from Turkey, the naturalised Montenegrin forward finished the night with 33 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 steals in a nail-biting first leg 82-79 success over Russian challengers Chevakata.

For the 31-year-old, it all amounted to an efficiency ranking of 46, one that it is difficult to see bettered when the competition enters the Regular Season.

Angelica Robinson, who will suit up for YDUBGD tomorrow night, would have been looking on with particular interest. Robinson currently holds the one naturalised spot on the Montenegrin roster, but will feel the now fully fit Murphy breathing down her neck with the all-important final FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 Qualifiers Window coming up in November.

Montenegro currently sit 2-2 in Group C, as they look to replicate their Quarter-Finals performance of 2015.

Further good news for Montenegro on Tuesday night was the performance of veteran point guard Jelena Skerovic, whose 16 assists took Basket Gdynia to a 74-64 open leg win over Elfic Fribourg.

Murphy missed out on EuroBasket Women 2015 after suffering an ACL injury playing for EuroLeague Women club Perfumerias Avenida.

She returned to action in Europe last year, winning the 2016 EuroCup Women title with Tango Bourges Basket, but appeared to be playing far from her marquee best, which had previously also seen her net a EuroLeague Women title.

However, following Wednesday's headline-grabbing display, the ACL injury appears to be little more than a distant thought.

FIBA