Fenerbahce (TUR)
27/10/2014
League
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Fenerbahce down Galatasaray to win President's Cup

SAMSUN (TKBL) - Years of planning ended up with a successful staging of the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women in Turkey, a tournament that finished just a few weeks ago in Istanbul when the United States defeated Spain in the title game.

The Turkish President's Cup has made sure the women's game remained in the spotlight, however, with Fenerbahce defeating Galatasaray on Sunday to mark the beginning of the new season.

In a battle of the country's heavyweights, last season's EuroLeague Women winners Galatasaray fell to Fener in Samsun, 56-48.

Fener, who are now coached by Jacek Winnicki, prevailed in the President's Cup for the 10th time in their history and for the third year in a row.

Tina Charles and Angel McCoughtry, who just won the world title for the second time in their careers with the USA, led the way for the winners.

Charles had 18 points and 11 rebounds and McCoughtry weighed in with 18 points and eight rebounds.

Nuria Martinez, a member of the Spanish side that finished second at the World Championship, scored 14 points to lead her new team, Gala.

Winnicki, though, admitted his team had a long way to go to become the force that everyone expects them to be both in the Turkish league and the EuroLeague Women, was all smiles after.

"We enjoyed the challenge," he said. "We jumped and we fought for every ball.

"I believe we will get better every day. I'm pleased with our defensive performance. We will be even better."

The two sides will open their campaigns in the Turkish top flight on Wednesday with Fenerbahce hosting Istanbul University and Galatasaray also competing in the city with a game at Besiktas.

Then on Saturday, Fenerbahce will play at Osmaniye Youth and Galatasaray will be at home to Orduspor.

The teams next launch their EuroLeague Women campaigns on 5 November, with Fenerbahce remaining in the country and playing at Kayseri and Galatasaray hosting Basket Lattes Montpellier Agglomeration.

FIBA