MUNICH (EuroLeague Women) - Paul Nilsen reflects on the penultimate round of Regular Season EuroLeague Women action.

The day of the underdog - Part 1
Not since the opening day of the Regular Season have we revelled in so many surprises as the script was well and truly torn up during a gripping Week 13. It's difficult to know where to start, but I will go with Group B and Krakow, where there was more at stake than elsewhere.

It had looked like the momentum had evaporated completely from Wisla Can-Pack after they lost their previous three games, waved goodbye to American forward Devereaux Peters and then relinquished their coveted Polish Cup title last weekend.

I had also asked several weeks ago that with a brutal schedule, could they actually win another game? Their response was emphatic as they posted an extraordinary defensive effort to upset the predictions and beat Nadezhda 54-51.

It is a result that has transformed their hopes of taking the last Quarter-Final ticket and as I watched the action unfold, I was so impressed with the entire team ethic of Wisla and they blunted Nadezhda with great effect. Credit to Jose Hernandez and especially Spanish forward Laura Nicholls, who has picked up the slack left by Peters in the paint.

Now throw in another relative upset (albeit not so big), with Mithra Castors Braine beating Tango Bourges 63-55 and you have a fascinating scenario where the French side had seemingly been in the driver's seat for a top-four finish - but now face the prospect of having their European engine turned off completely.

It really was a disappointing loss for Bourges and you just can't predict two high-level and reliable players in Danielle Page and Jo Leedham both misfiring and going an identical 1-of-9 in such an important game.

Yet the shortcomings of the visitors should not undermine the credit for the home side who showed a lot of composure and as always - seeing Marjorie Carpreaux hand out so many assists is always a pleasure.

And, what about Spar CityLift Girona? They recorded their best ever result of their brief EuroLeague Women history by upsetting defending champions ZVVZ USK Prague 54-52. Yes, the visitors were without the dynamic services of EuroBasket Women champion Sonja Petrovic, but it was still a brilliant victory.

Not least because Girona had held a 20-point lead, squandered it, went behind in the last minute - yet still found the character and composure to complete an exhilarating victory.

It sets up a stunning last week of the Regular Season with every team having something to play for and nothing yet decided in terms of the last golden quarter-final ticket - or the two spots for the last eight of EuroCup Women.

The day of the underdog - Part 2
While there were no quarter-final places up for grabs in Group A, there were still some big upsets and not least Good Angels Kosice blasting their way to an extraordinary 78-48 victory at Villeneuve d'Ascq. They now have a great chance of taking a place in the last eight of EuroCup Women, although have a real potential skid patch next week when they face bottom side Uniqa Sopron, so must avoid any complacency. This win in France also helped ease memories of a painful overtime loss earlier in the season.

Meanwhile Beretta Famila Schio were terrific at Fenerbahce who had previously lost only once all season and the Italians also extracted revenge for a home loss. On the subject of which, Fenerbahce had not suffered a defeat on their home court since 22 February 2011 and their last Regular Season loss in Istanbul was 11 November 2009, both losses coming at the hands of Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje.

Weekly gongs
Team performance of the week: I am spoiled for choice, but I have to go with Wisla Can-Pack for beating a quality outfit like Nadezhda. Especially within the context of the losing streak they were on, the negativity around their domestic Cup defeat and loss of Peters.
Individual Performance of the Week: Laura Nicholls really came up big when her team needed it and it's a Wisla awards double, with the Spaniard having sealed a fine double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Unsung Hero: When the chips are down in your own individual game, it's important to keep working hard. It was noticeable that while Lithuanian forward Lina Pikciute was having a distinctly off-night from the field for Girona against the holders, she never stopped doing the business on the glass and beat-up Prague by pulling down an awesome 15 boards for her team.
Rising Star: It was a rotten night for Villeneuve d'Ascq as a team but at least Aby Gaye continued to enhance her own reputation with an efficient six points and nine rebounds.

Crunching the numbers
- When Lynetta Kizer scored 19 points for Galatasaray in their win at Perfumerias Avenida not one of the other 23 players in the contest managed to reach double-digits.
- Dynamo Kursk beat their own record when they amassed 102 points in their win at Uniqa Sopron which was the highest score by any team in a game this season.
- Marjorie Carpreaux of Mithra Castors Braine became the fifth player this season to hit double-figures for assists after she dished up 10 of them against Tango Bourges.

Footnote
- I forgot to note something very important last week, but a factor that rose to the fore more this time around. That was the return to action of Lucia Kupcikova of Good Angels Kosice. For so many years, this intelligent and do-it-all player and former standout performer with Slovak Republic was a big favourite of mine. It really is great to see her back on the floor.

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