MUNICH (Germany) - Fenerbahce Opet will step out at this year's edition of Final Six after they got the win they needed at Umana Reyer Venezia to become the first team to make the Semi-Final Play-Ins.
Reigning champions ZVVZ USK Praha are still fighting and now in a much better positon to extend the defense of their crown after a fabulous win at Galatasaray Cagdas Faktoring.
Beretta Famila Schio stayed on course to make the Play-Ins after Jessica Shepard showed out yet again in a convincing home win against Spar Girona.
On Wednesday night, a huge home crowd watched Casademont Zaragoza storm past arch rivals Valencia Basket Club to give their Play-Ins chances a significant boost. The attendance of 8,457 was the sixth highest in EuroLeague Women history and that support helped Zaragoza improve to 6-4, now the same record as Valencia.
Key Storylines
Gabby Williams and Iliana Rupert propel Fenerbahce to Final Six;
Reigning champions Praha inflict only second loss of season on Galatasaray;
Jessica Shepard fires highest points tally by a player this season as Schio take a precious victory;
Fiesta time in Zaragoza as frontcourt duo Hempe and Fingall shine;
Carolo cut down Bourges with big team effort as they proudly take rare win;
Landes boost Play-Ins prospects with successive home victories.
Weekly Highs
Efficiency: Jessica Shepard (Beretta Famila Schio) - 39 Points: Jessica Shepard (Beretta Famila Schio) - 31 Rebounds: Kariata Diaby (Tango Bourges Basket), Jessica Shepard (Beretta Famila Schio) - 11 Assists: Multiple players - 7 Steals: Noemie Brochant (Flammes Carolo Basket) - 5 Blocks: Pauline Astier (ZVVZ USK Praha) - 2
Fenerbahce take the next step; Holders Praha gaining momentum
They have lost only once all season and now Turkish juggernauts Fenerbahce are safely into the Semi-Final Play-Ins after moving past Reyer 71-61 on the road. Gabby Williams was highly influential, dropping three triples en-route to 18 points and also adding 5 boards, 5 assists and 4 steals.
That points tally was matched by France national team colleague Iliana Rupert who also added 6 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks. The only downside for Fenerbahce was the highly impactful scorer Kayla McBride having gone down ahead of the game with an injury.
Praha had to resist a late surge from Galatasaray to wrap up a 71-64 victory and it was one that will supercharge the holders' bid to rescue their season.
Improving to 6-4, the win was built on a shared 32 points from Janelle Salaun and Pauline Astier - while a third French baller in Valeriane Ayayi weighed in with 10 points and 8 boards. Continuing the dominant French theme, Marine Johannes top scored with 18 points for Galatasaray.
Jessica Shepard was outstanding for Schio as they pushed out Girona 85-74 off the back of her sensational performance efficiency valuation of 39 - the joint highest of the season.
It included a last gasp basket which took her game points total to 31 - the highest by any player so far in the current campaign. Schio are now 6-4 after their win, with Maria Conde adding 15 points in a key cameo. The loss was tough to beat for Girona's Laura Quevedo who excelled with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
Party in Zaragoza; mixed fortunes for French trio
The fans were on their feet in appreciation for Zaragoza after they completed a hugely important impressive 81-71 win against Valencia. The massive crowd were given a treat by their favorites and especially frontcourt pair Merritt Hempe and Nadia Fingall.
They did the bulk of their team's best work, with the former harvesting 20 points and 6 boards, while Fingall recorded 13 points and 7 rebounds.
Carolo Basket fans enjoyed seeing their team claim only their third victory of the campaign as they recorded a 65-59 triumph against the high-flying Bourges. The home side almost blew an 18-point lead as their opponents launched a late rescue mission, but they held on for a morale-boosting win.
Despite having no chance of progressing, they put in a super team effort, with 10 different players getting onto the scoresheet - led by 15 points from Vaciana Gomis. Bourges center Kariata Diaby racked up 12 points and 11 rebounds, but her team didn't find any rhythm until it was too late and they are now 6-4 in Group E.
Basket Landes are tantalizingly close to a Play-Ins spot after they made home advantage count once again with a one-sided 79-59 victory against DVTK HUNTHERM. A strong 23-9 third quarter was pivotal to the victory - as was the continued good form of Murjanatu Musa.
The center accrued another double-double to lead the French side to the win - racking up 12 points and 10 rebounds, while teammate Camille Droguet top-scored with 14 points.
Results
Thursday, January 22 Galatasaray Cagdas Faktoring 64-71 ZVVZ USK Praha Umana Reyer Venezia 61-71 Fenerbahce Opet Beretta Famila Schio 85-74 Spar Girona
Wednesday, January 21
Flammes Carolo Basket 65-59 Tango Bourges Basket Basket Landes 79-59 DVTK HUNTHERM Casademont Zaragoza 81-71 Valencia Basket Club
FIBA