NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen's Women's Basketball Worldwide) - The recent EuroCup Women 2017 Qualifiers really did harvest some spectacular individual performances that deserve some wider attention and recognition.

Rather fittingly, the ace in this particular pack turned out to be a reigning EuroCup Women winner in Eshaya Murphy who lifted the coveted silverware last season at Tango Bourges Basket. In truth, that was only a bit-part effort off the bench as she recovered from a long-term and serious injury. Well guess what? Murphy is back and firing on all cylinders, perhaps looking towards the WNBA summer of 2017 and a EuroLeague Women return thereafter.

Right now, her presence at Samsun is very much their gain and evidenced by two absolutely spectacular performances in a pulsating tie with Chevakata. At home in the first-leg, she amassed an eye-popping line of 33 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 steals. She then helped her team ice a second-leg victory on Russian soil with 27 points, 15 rebounds and 6 assists. Add those two sets of numbers together and it underlines what an extraordinary effort it was from the former EuroLeague Women champion.

It's not as if Murphy put up those numbers against some minnows or first-timers, she did it against Chevakata who compete in one of the best leagues in Europe and are one of the most well-established teams in EuroCup Women with 13 consecutive regular campaigns behind them. I felt sorry for their own standout performer in Emma Cannon by the way. She didn't deserve to be denied a Regular Season spot after also being right on the money with a similarly wonderful 62 points and 25 rebounds in the tie.

Elsewhere in the Qualifiers, there were two dazzling individual displays for rookies VBW CEKK Cegled of Hungary who are celebrating a place in the main phase of the competition for the first time thanks to Maja Skoric and Nora Nagy-Bujdoso. The former came up with a rare triple-double in her team's scorching first leg success against Enisey Krasnoyarsk as she corralled 14 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. It was a line that underlined the depth of Serbian talent in European competition which is reflective of their rise to prominence on the international stage. And, while you can't take much away from a triple-double, the 33 points and 11 rebounds of Nagy-Bujdoso was perhaps even more impressive as she shot almost 70 percent which was breath-taking.

Another newcomer in Turkish side YDUBGD should be taken very seriously and might even threaten the latter stages. That's how highly I rate them and hats off to a EuroLeague Women 2016 Finalist in Angelica Robinson as she was on fire with 20 points in both games and then a massive 28 boards in the tie.

She also shot almost 65 percent and to have this level of quality in the Qualifiers for the second tier women's competition in Europe underlines why it is worth following and watching.

Keeping on a Montenegro theme, Basket Gdynia 90 were left crushed by their exit and taking into account that we expect big displays from a veteran like Jelena Skerovic, it would be wrong not to offer gushing praise for her individual effort in the first game against Elfic Fribourg when she handed out a tremendous 16 assists [yes, do not adjust your eyes] that is sweet 16! She also scored 10 points for a stupendous double-double. Amazing stuff. Meanwhile in that very same tie, it was Jazmine Davis who rose to the fore for Elfic Fribourg with over 50 points as they delivered a real boon for Swiss women’s basketball.

Meanwhile, although it wasn't an individual performance like those above, but the last word must go to rookie side Rutronik Stars Keltern, who cemented their Regular Season berth at the first time of asking. It's great to see German women's basketball represented by other clubs and not just regular flag bearers, TSV 1880 Wasserburg.

Finally, these EuroCup Women Qualifiers have all been overshadowed by the tragic news that Samsun head coach Mehmet Can Ozturk has passed away and on that note, while there have been some amazing performances to rave about - this kind of thing really does put it all back into some perspective. I offer my sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the late Mr Ozturk.

Paul Nilsen

FIBA

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