MUNICH (Germany) - It was an eventful and eye-catching start to the new calendar year as Basket Landes ripped up the last remaining flawless record with a shock win against Fenerbahce Opet.
Galatasaray Cagdas Faktoring became only the second team to take a Play-Ins ticket as they took down Spar Girona, while Bridget Carleton wrote herself into the history books with the all-time best shooting display from downtown as ZVVZ USK Praha roared past Flammes Carolo Basket.
Key Storylines
Landes pull off one of their greatest ever wins by taking down previously perfect Fenerbahce;
Galatasaray celebrate reaching the next phase after easing out Girona;
Carleton makes it rain in Prague with phenomenal nine triples for Praha as they torch Flammes;
Bourges win a thrilling shootout with Schio; Zaragoza and Valencia both take wins.
Weekly Highs
Efficiency: Bridget Carelton (ZVVZ USK Praha) - 30 Points: Bridget Carelton (ZVVZ USK Praha) - 29 Rebounds: Murjanatu Musa (Basket Lanes) - 13 Assists: Valeriane Ayayi (ZVVZ USK Praha) - 9 Steals: Helena Pueyo (Casademont Zaragoza), Valeriane Ayayi (ZVVZ USK Praha) - 5 Blocks: Awak Kuier (Galatasaraqy Cagdas Faktoring) - 4
Landes pull off huge upset; Galatasaray grab precious Play-Ins spot
Basket Landes posted another famous victory on home soil as the underdogs toppled red-hot frontrunners Fenerbahce 80-61. It wasn't only the win, but the margin and style of the success that made everyone sit up and take notice. While the visitors had already booked their Play-Ins spot, they will be rocked by this shock outcome.
Landes breathed some serious life into their chances as Murjanatu Musa did the business in the paint and Leila Lacan lit it up brilliantly in the backcourt. The former came away with a fine double-double of 15 points and 13 boards, while Lacan had her best ever game in the competition with 28 points, making 5 downtown scores.
Galatasaray have matched their arch rivals Fenerbahce by also reaching the Play-Ins and that came courtsey of an 82-68 win at Spar Girona. Taking advantage of the home side missing December MVP, Mariam Coulibaly due to injury, center Dorka Juhasz went to work and won her side the game.
The Hungarian was a colossus under the basket and made 10 of 15 en-route to 23 points, while only missing out on a double-double by a single rebound. Awak Kuier had fun too, with 19 points, 9 boards and 4 blocks.
Bridget Carleton had a night to remember as Praha swept past Flammes Carolo Basket 98-55, with the Canadian guard becoming the first player to ever drop 9 triples in a game.
Headlining with 29 points and helping Praha improve to 5-4, she made 9 of her 12 attempts as they finished with 17 threes - the joint third highest by any team in the modern era. The other good news for Praha was the return of Brionna Jones who stepped out for the first time this season and added 14 points, as well as 6 rebounds.
Tango Bourges Basket shifted through the gears in the closing stages of their contest against Beretta Famila Schio and that was essential as they pulled out a terrific 92-81 win. With the game finely poised at 73-73, they opened the offensive taps and scored 19 points inside the last five minutes.
It was a real team show from the home side, with six players posting double-digit scoring returns. Tima Pouye excelled with 18 points and 6 assists, with Maeva Djaldi Tabdi accumulating a double-double of 10 points and 11 boards.
Helena Pueyo brought the noise for Casademont Zaragoza as they extinguished the hopes of DVTK HUNTHERM advancing and boosted their own prospects with a comfortable 79-60 success in Hungary. Pueyo was superb with an all-action effort of 21 points, 5 rebounds and 5 steals, with Mariona Ortiz dishing out 7 dimes in support.
Valencia Basket Club leaned closer to a Play-Ins place with a hard-fought 81-73 triumph at home to Umana Reyer Venezia. They had to dig out a big 23-12 last quarter to be sure, with a positive 14 point debut from Yvonne Anderson also cause for satisfaction.
Awa Fam also bagged 14 points, while Leonie Fiebich impressed with 13 points and 7 assists.
Results
Wednesday, January 14
DVTK HUNTHERM 60-79 Casademont Zaragoza Spar Girona 68-82 Galatasaray Cagdas Faktoring ZVVZ USK Praha 98-55 Flammes Carolo Basket Valencia Basket Club 81-73 Umana Reyer Venezia Basket Landes 80-61 Fenerbahce Opet Tango Bourges Basket 92-81 Beretta Famila Schio
FIBA