MUNICH (Germany) - There were scenes of celebration as a huge home crowd watched Casademont Zaragoza storm past arch rivals Valencia Basket Club to give their chances of making the Play-Ins 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.
There are still another three matchups to be played on Thursday, January 22.
Key Storylines
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: Multiple players - 20 Points: Merritt Hempe (Casademont Zaragoza) - 20 Rebounds: Kariata Diaby (Tango Bourges Basket) - 11 Assists: Multiple players - 7 Steals: Noemie Brochant (Flammes Carolo Basket) - 5 Blocks: Multiple players - 1
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
Wednesday, January 21
Flammes Carolo Basket 65-59 Tango Bourges Basket Basket Landes 79-59 DVTK HUNTHERM Casademont Zaragoza 81-71 Valencia Basket Club
Thursday, January 22 Galatasaray Cagdas Faktoring vs ZVVZ USK Praha Umana Reyer Venezia vs Fenerbahce Opet Beretta Famila Schio vs Spar Girona
FIBA