MUNICH (Germany) - The EuroCup Women Regular Season is over for another year and on the very last night of action, the last five spots for the next phase of the competition were snapped up. Neptunas-Amberton were sent through in second place in Group D, while the four best placed teams that finished third across all groups were confirmed as NKA Universitas Pecs, TARR KSC Szekszard, CSM Constanta and Elitzur Ramla.
Some 24 hours earlier on Wednesday night, there was jubilation for Charnay, La Molisana Campobasso, Castors Braine, Rutronik Stars Keltern and Kibirkstis who all made the post-season.
Key Storylines
The last five places are confirmed on Thursday night by Neptuas-Amberton, NKA Universitas Pecs, TARR KSC Szekszard, CSM Constanta and Elitzur Ramla;
Meanwhile on Wednesday evening, Charnay, La Molisana Campobasso, Castors Braine, Keltern and Kibirkstis Vilnius all made the Play-Off Round 1;
17-year-old Dominique Malonga lights it up with 32 points and another dunk in an ASVEL jersey;
Weekly Highs
Efficiency: Alexandra Sharp (Movistar Estudiantes) - 43 Points: Dominique Malonga (LDLC ASVEL Feminin) - 32 Rebounds: Alexandra Sharp (Movistar Estudiantes), Laura Miskiene (Polski Cukier AZS UMCS Lublin) - 16 Assists: Dionysia Alexandri (Panathinaikos), Dana Evans (Besiktas JK) - 12 Steals: Shaylee Gonzales (BDS Dinamo Sassari) - 6 Blocks: Multiple Players - 3
Joy for quintet as post-season door opens; Evans shows out for Besiktas
Five more clubs are contemplating their EuroCup Women campaigns being extended after they completed the field for the Play-Off Round 1. Neptunas Amberton got the win they craved on Wednesday night but needed a favor from BLMA and the French club duly obliged by beating Elfic Fribourg 93-60.
Meanwhile NKA Universitas Pecs, TARR KSC Szekszard, CSM Constanta and Elitzur Ramla were confirmed as the best third-place teams, with perhaps only Ramla overly concerned about another club snatching their place because of their basket difference. But they are now breathing a sigh of relief after making it through.
Elsewhere on Thursday night, Besiktas showed their class again with anothe convincing victory, this time Dana Evans erupting for 27 points and 12 assists in a 103-63 win against Basket Namur Capitale.
Malonga throws one more down; more clubs celebrate post-season spot
It wasn't only another throw down that thrust teenager Dominique Malonga when she took to the court for LDLC ASVEL Feminin in their 100-79 victory against InvestInTheWest Enea Gorzow, it was also her all-around performance.
The French young gun is killing it this season and had the fans on her feet with her dunk and also a monstrous 32-point effort that put the visitors to the sword.
Charnay Basket made history as they advanced with a convincing 84-53 success at home to Bodrum Basketbol. It was Nigeria national team baller Elizabeth Balogun that shone most brightly in the scoring stakes with 17 points, while Madeleine Garrick impressed with 14 points and 9 boards.
La Molisana Campobasso blasted their way into the post-season with a one-sided 103-38 win against BC Yerevan Foxes as Stefania Trimboli passed the rock an eye-catching 10 times.
Kibirkstis Vilnius got the win they needed as they outlasted Alba Berlin 80-68 behind 23 and 22 points respectively from Sydney Taylor and Giedre Labuckiene - and leave Elitzur Ramla sweating on their place in the process.
Castors Braine also went through courtesy of their hard-fought and nail-biting 78-74 win in Romania against CSM Constanta. A 22 point piece from Juliunn Redmond and 17 from Marcia da Costa Robalo got the job done. The result also did a favor for Rutronik Stars Keltern who went through due to the Belgian side's success.
In one of the games of the season, TARR KSC Szekszard kept their hopes alive with an epic 106-98 overtime success against Movistar Estudiantes. There were huge displays including 27 points and 14 boards from Kathryn Westbeld, 24 points and 15 rebounds from Marena Whittle, plus 26 points from rising star Dominika Baa who got the steal and score to force overtime.
The loss was tough for Aussie Alexandra Sharp who had 28 points and 16 rebounds.
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