MUNICH (Germany) - It promises to be another gripping EuroCup Women season and that was evidenced by a typically entertaining opening to the new campaign which witnessed some great games and amazing solo performances.
And, there are still another seven games to be played to conclude Gameday 1 on Thursday, October 15.
Key Storylines
Avenida have to work hard for a winning start;
Castors Braine deny heroic GEAS star Okosun;
Girona end a barren run in style;
Benfica ace Nunn gets it done with breathtaking debut.
Weekly Highs
Efficiency: Schaquilla Nunn (SL Benfica) - 33 Points: Schaquilla Nunn (SL Benfica) - 26 Rebounds: Julianna Okosun (GEAS Basket) - 21 Assists: Kyra Lambert (Olympiacos SFP), Kennedy Todd-Williams (Sopron Basket) - 9 Steals: Jospehine Filipe (SL Benfica), Keira Robinson (Nyon Basket Feminin) - 5 Blocks: Tayra Eke Benitez (BAXI Ferrol) - 3
Sighs of relief in Salamanca, Braine-l'Alleud and Girona
MEINS Avenida celebrated an opening night success in Salamanca against MBK Ruzomberok, but had to work hard for a 75-64 win. The final scoreline didn't tell the story, with the outcome in the balance heading down the stretch.
The Spanish side finished with a flourish and ironically, it was a Slovakian in Rebeka Mikulasikova who top-scored for the home team with 18 points. Claudia Soriano was also hugely influential with 16 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals.
It was an even tighter affair for Castors Braine who edged out GEAS Basket 78-85 in a thriller. They had to resist a phenomenal display from Denmark national standout Julianna Okosun who was unstoppable at times for GEAS.
The forward collected a jaw-dropping double-double of 23 points and 21 rebounds, but it was not enough to avoid defeat as Castors survived a last-gasp effort to force overtime from Laura Cornelius.
Spar Girona have been on a tough run and out of sorts both domestically and also in their recent EuroLeague Women Qualifier. Yet despite being without star guard Iyana Martin, who was injured, they picked up a much needed 77-49 victory against SBS Ostrava. Madison Conner impressed with 19 points after hitting 5 triples.
Panathinaikos A.C picked up an 81-73 win against ALBA Berlin in an entertaining matchup, that required big efforts to get them across the line.
Sara Bejedi dropped 4 of 6 from downtown en-route to a game-high 20 points, while Khadijiah Cave claimed 15 points and 12 boards, with Ioanna Krimili adding 18 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds.
Nearby in Piraeus, arch-rivals Olympiacos SFP blew away the visiting BAXI Ferrol 96-68 behind a brilliant 26 points from Eleanna Christinaki who lit it up from long-range. Meanwhile, Dulcy Fankam did the business in the paint with 16 points and 6 rebounds.
Benfica star Schaquilla Nunn had a night to remember as she guided Benfica SL past Saarlouis Royals 69-65 on Tuesday night. Her team would likely have lost the absorbing contest had she not produced a special debut of 26 points and 12 rebounds.
Elsewhere, there were convincing wins for a number of frontrunners in this season's competition, including the likes of Sopron Basket, DVTK HUNTHERM, Zabiny Brno and Villenuve D'Ascq LM.
FIBA