MUNICH (Germany) - Five clubs are celebrating making the EuroCup Women Round of 16 after getting the results needed in their respective Play-Off Round 1 second leg games to advance to the next phase.
However, it wasn't always plain sailing as Lointek Gernika Bizkaia breathe an enormous sigh of relief after almost blowing a 19-point lead from their first meeting against NKA Universitas Pecs.
Meanwhile, MB Zaglebie Sosnowiec had to see off a strong challenge from Rutronik Stars Keltern to avoid their advantage being overturned. There are also still another 11 second leg games to be played on Thursday, December 18 to complete the field.
Key Storylines
Gernika suffer big loss in Pecs thriller but dodge a major bullet to survive and progress;
Sydney Taylor drops a 35 piece for Sosnowiec as they slip past Keltern;
Castors Braine catch the eye as they power past former EuroLeague Women participants Gdynia.
Weekly Highs
Efficiency: Gergana Ivanova (Castors Braine) - 31 Points: Sydney Taylor (MB Zaglebie Sosnowiec) - 35 Rebounds: Catherine Reese (MB Zaglebie Sosnowiec) - 12 Assists: Gergana Ivanova (Castors Braine) - 7 Steals: Matea Tadic (MB Zaglebie Sosnowiec), Quay Miller (Castors Braine) - 35 - 3 Blocks: Morgan Amari Jacqueline Jones (VBW Gdynia) - 3
Gernika escape as Pecs despair; scoring machine Taylor lights it up
With a 19-point lead it looked like Gernika were already set for the next phase. However, they only just managed to achieve that aim after losing 78-61 to Pecs in a nerve-shredding contest. They had to rely mainly on 20 points from Masa Jankovic to survive, including a last gasp layup.
Pecs were left agonized at only just falling short and were led by 25 points from Julia Reisingerova, as well as 15 points from Agnes Torok.
Sosnowiec held a modest 8-point advantage heading to Keltern and had to work hard to avoiud being dumped out. They saw their lead wiped out at one juncture but eventually rode their way to a dramatic 80-79 triumph behind an epic 35 points from Sydney Taylor, as well as a double-double of 17 points and 12 boards from Catherine Reese.
Having already impressed last week in their first leg duel against VBW Gdynia when taking victory, Castors Braine finished the job in real style with a 91-54 blowout win on the road against their opponents. Gergana Ivanova got almost landed in triple-double territory with a superb 16 points. 9 rebounds and 7 assists.
Results
Wednesday, December 17
VBW Gdynia 54-91 Castors Braine (Aggregate: 127-171) NKA Universitas Pecs 78-61 Lointek Gernika Bizkaia (Aggregate: 121-123) Rutronik Stars Keltern 79-80 MB Zaglebie Sosnowiec (Aggregate: 154-163) Villeneuve d'Ascq LM 67-75 UFAB49 (Aggregate: 162-142) Magnolia Basket Campobasso 60-54 Kibirkstis-TOKS (Aggregate: 130-141) Thursday, December 18
CIMSA CBK Mersin vs CS Rapid Bucuresti LOTTO AZS UMCS Lublin vs Zabiny Brno Olympiacos SFP vs Elitzur Ramla Sopron Basket vs Besiktas BOA KKZ Crvena Zvezda vs Panathinaikos A.C Athinaikos Qualco vs Hozono Global Jairis Movistar Estudiantes vs Sleza Wroclaw BLMA vs Charnay Basket BAXI Ferrol vs GEAS Perfumerias Avenida vs Emlak Konut Basket Mechelen vs KP Brno vs Kangoeroes
FIBA