MUNICH (Germany) - There are now only four teams still standing after the conclusion of the EuroCup Women Quarter-Finals Second Leg games as Athinaikos Qualco, Villeneuve d'Ascq LM, BLMA and CIMSA CBK Mersin all marched into the penultimate phase.
Athinaikos overturned a six point deficit against Perfumerias Avenida to win a thriller on the road in Salamanca in what was the most roller-coaster tie of all.
Holders Villeneuve came from behind to beat Movistar Estudiantes, BLMA lost to LOTTO AZS UMCS Lublin but advanced comfortably in aggregate, while Mersin completed an impressive double over Panathinaikos A.C.
Key Storylines
Dramatic late show from Robyn Parks fuels edge of the seat Athinaikos comeback;
Kennedy Burke continues rich vein of form to make sure Mersin make no mistake;
Alexis Peterson is the supreme leader who gets it done for the reigning champions;
French young gun Nell Angloma fires for BLMA with a Quarter-Finals big show.
Weekly Highs
Efficiency: Sedona Prince (Panathinaikos A.C) - 29 Points: Nell Angloma (BLMA) - 28 Rebounds: Sedona Prince (Panathinaikos A.C) - 17 Assists: Dragana Stankovic (LOTTO AZS UMCS Lublin) - 8 Steals: Samantha Breen (BLMA) - 4 Blocks: Luisa Geiselsoder (CIMSA CBK Mersin), Sedona Prince (Panathinaikos A.C) - 3
Athinaikos break Avenida hearts; party time in Mersin
A late intervention from Robyn Parks was behind a tense and absorbing 79-69 victory for Athinaikos at Pabellon Wurzburg which inflicted despair for Avenida fans. In the middle of a noisy and passionate home support, Robyn Parks found her range in the last quarter with a series of superb buckets to get the job done for the visitors.
With just a minute remaining the tie was locked up, but Parks hit the go-ahead triple that effectively swung the contest away from Avenida. Her 11 points in the last period were decisive, while Holly Winterburn impressed with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists - as were a game-high 18 points from Aleix Prince.
A big crowd also got behind local favorites Mersin as they built on their slender first leg advantage of just four points to eventually ease past Panathinaikos 71-57. The home supporters watched their team hit another level after the half-time break and lock down their Greek visitors.
Led by a superb 20 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists from Kennedy Burke as well as 11 points and 11 boards from Laura Juskaite, Mersin visibly found another gear. Panathinaikos could not live with it - despite another excellent show from Sedona Prince who picked up 12 points and 17 rebounds.
Trailing by two points from their first meeting, last year's champions Villeneuve left it late, but eventually made the run they needed to see off Movistar Estudiantes 80-70. It was usual suspect Alexis Peterson who proved to be the inspiration, with the playmaker dropping 27 points to ensure the club's title defense continues.
A nice cameo of 21 points from Ameryst Alston, plus 15 points and 10 boards from Sokhna Fall were also crucial in bringing the run of Estudiantes to an end. The Spanish side bow out, despite the best efforts of Frieda Buhner and Lisa Berkani, who shared 42 points in the contest.
BLMA already had one foot in the Semi-Finals after a huge win in Lublin and while on the wrong side of an 82-78 home defeat, they still breezed through on aggregate. Making sure they made the last four was rising star Nell Angloma who poured in a dazzling 28 points before fouling out.
Dragana Stankovic starred for Lublin with an all-action 13 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds.
Results
Thursday, February 12
CIMSA CBK Mersin 71-57 Panathinaikos A.C (162-144 on aggregate) Villeneuve d'Acsq LM 80-70 Movistar Estudiantes (151-143 on aggregate) BLMA 78-82 LOTTO AZS UMCS Lublin (145-125 on aggregate) Perfumerias Avenida 68-79 Athinaikos Qualco (139-144 on aggregate)
FIBA