MUNICH (Germany) - The road teams enjoyed their Quarter-Final first leg ties as the path to the last four began on Thursday night, but there was plenty of drama in Madrid.
Movistar Estudiantes upset holders Villeneuve d'Ascq LM, leaving the second leg with it all to play for. Elsewhere, CIMSA CBK Mersin grabbed a big win over Panathinaikos A.C. in front of another bumper crowd in Athens.
Key Storylines
Stubborn Estudiantes squeak past holders Villeneuve after Berkani winner;
Mersin overcame Panathinaikos in front of more than 6,000 fans;
Big double-double from Garance Rabot helps BLMA leave Lublin with a mountain to climb;
Perfumerias Avenida score vital road win over Athinaikos
Weekly highs
Efficiency: Sedona Prince (Panathinaikos A.C.) - 26 Points: Frieda Buhner (Movistar Estudiantes) - 26 Rebounds: Garance Rabot (BLMA) - 15 Assists: Feyonda Fitzgerald (Panathinaikos A.C.) / Iyana Martin (Perfumerias Avenida) - 8 Steals: Garance Rabot (BLMA) / Claudia Soriano (Movistar Estudiantes) - 5 Blocks: Nneka Ezeigbo (Movistar Estudiantes) - 3
Holders Villeneuve d'Ascq halted by Estudiantes
Surprise package Movistar Estudiantes scored a massive 73-71 victory over Villeneuve d'Ascq in a pulsating battle, leaving the second leg on a knife-edge next week.
Frieda Buhner led the way with 26 points and 7 rebounds, but it was Lisa Berkani who stunned the holders with a three-pointer to hand the Spanish side the edge.
Alexis Peterson, who looked to have won it for her side, paced the French side with 21 points, as they return home next week looking to overturn the slender deficit.
Mersin hold the cards after first leg road win over Panathinaikos
CIMSA CBK Mersin bagged a crucial 91-87 victory over Panathinaikos A.C. in a thoroughly entertaining game in Athens in front of a bumper crowd of 6,122 that saw a finale that could have gone either way.
In the end, Mersin kept their spotless record in the competition, having led for most of the game, with their largest lead at 17 points. However, they had to withstand a furious fourth quarter by Panathinaikos, who outscored their Turkish counterparts 22-15 and reduced the lead to 88-85 with a minute to play, but couldn't hold it together down the stretch.
Busra Akbas led the victors with 21 points and 2 steals. Artemis Spanou countered with 21 for Panathinaikos, who keep the tie interesting, but will have to get the job done away from home to advance.
Perfumerias Avenida bag win in Greece
Perfumerias Avenida secured a 71-65 victory away to Athinaikos Qualco, thanks to Iyana Martin, but the tie is still left with all to play for next week in Spain.
Martin led the way with 22 points, 8 assists and 3 steals as Avenida were solid at the foul line, going 11-for-16, but shot poorly from three-point range, going 4-for-15. However, Martin's performance gave them the advantage.
Borislava Hristova had a team-high 21 points for Athinaikos.
BLMA take firm control against Lublin
BLMA took advantage of LOTTO AZS UMCS Lublin's poor ball security, resulting in a convincing 67-43 win in their first-leg tie.
The French side scored 23 points off their 25 Lublin turnovers and added 32 points inside in a dominant display, led by 15 points apiece from American Qadashah Hoppie and forward Garance Rabot, with Rabot also pulling down 15 rebounds.
Robbi Ryan and Klaudia Wnorowska both had 8 points to lead Lublin, but they have a mountain to climb in the second leg.
Results
Panathinaikos A.C. 87-91 CIMSA CBK Mersin LOTTO AZS UMCS Lublin 43-67 BLMA Athinaikos Qualco 65-71 Perfumerias Avenida Movistar Estudiantes 73-71 Villeneuve d'Ascq LM
FIBA