MUNICH (Germany) - The most unpredictable EuroLeague Women season in recent memory could be lying in wait after the second week of action threw up more eye-catching results, as well as some teams getting off the mark.
Key Storylines
Galatasaray make no mistake in Mechelen;
Coulibaly shows her class again to continue red-hot form of last season;
Bitter-sweet for 'Assists Queen' Tadic as Praha squeeze out Lublin;
Kibirkstis show they mean business as Use lands monster double-double;
Carolo celebrate big upset in Valencia; Hempe, Bankole unstoppable for Zaragoza.
Weekly Highs
Efficiency: Mariam Coulibaly (Beretta Famila Schio) - 30 Points: Merritt Hempe (Casademont Zaragoza) - 29 Rebounds: Daugile Use (Kibirkstis-TOKS) - 18 Assists: Matea Tadic (Lotto AZS UMCS Lublin) - 14 Steals: Teodora Turudic (KKZ Crvena Zvezda), Aliyah Collier (KKZ Crvena Zvezda), - 4 Blocks: Multiple players - 3
Galatasaray find a higher gear to avoid an upset
Stung by their Gameday 1 loss in Istanbul, it's now a 1-1 record for Galatasaray Cagdas Faktoring after they eased their way to a commanding 77-50 victory at Kangoeroes Basket Mechelen.
After a tight first quarter, the visitors shut down their Belgian hosts in brutal fashion in the second period, limiting them to just 5 points.
That was the foundation for victory as they opened up the offensive taps after the interval in a well balanced team effort. Emese Hof and Sevgi Uzin shared 20 points, while Derin Erdogan went a super-smart 5 of 6 from the floor as the posted 11 points. Meanwhile, Olivia Nelson-Ododa also showed off her passing skills in the contest.
Schio stay unbeaten after Coulibaly show
Touted as one of the signings of the off-season, Mariam Coulibaly's move to Beretta Famila Schio is already bearing fruit. The center put in a trademark top drawer effort to propel her new side to an 84-72 victory against KKZ Crvena Zvezda.
Finishing with 14 points and 13 rebounds, Coulibaly showed other sides to her power-packed game with 5 steals, while Kitija Laksa caught fire from range with 4 triples in a 24-point haul. The visitors kept pace in the first-half but had no answer when Schio turned up the heat in the third quarter
Relief for Praha in Poland
There was despair for Lotto AZS UMCS Lublin as they were beaten 74-71 by a relieved ZVVZ USK Praha who held their composure in crunch time to stay unbeaten.
The home side looked like taking a first win after Matea Tadic dished out a stunning 14 assists, but Lublin dried up in crunch time with just two baskets in the last four minutes.
Praha leaned on their forward duo Frieda Buhner and Brianna Fraser to take care of business, with the former landing a team-high 17 points along with 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Fraser grabbed 15 points from 7 of 8 shooting.
Kibirkstis show they're the real deal
Lithuanian side Kibirkstis-TOKS followed up their huge Gameday 1 victory at home by taking a fantastic 73-67 triumph at Basket Landes.
Showing they mean business this season, it was another excellent result. Especially since they shot only 3 from 23 downtown, yet still emerged with a memorable win.
That was mainly down to a towering and spectacular double-double from Daugile Use who finished with a stellar 18 points and 18 boards. Niyah Becker and Nausia Woolfolk played the cameo as they shared 24 points. A positive for Landes was that Trinity San Antonio impressed again, this time registering 18 points. 6 assists and 5 rebounds.
Carolo continue momentum with super road win
Another team from the Qualifiers who continue to excel are Flammes Carolo Basket after they also stayed unbeaten by taking a shock 77-63 success at Valencia Basket Club.
Making their move either side of the break, the French side took control in a success that leaves their Spanish opponents without a win after two home games.
Coline Franchelin pulled the strings and was just one rebound away from a double-double after coming up with 16 points and 9 assists. Noemie Brochant also put in a top drawer performance, with 17 points and 5 assists.
Zaragoza one-two punch floors Athiniakos
Two superb displays from Casademont Zaragoza duo Merrit Hempe and Ornella Bankole underpinned an eye-catching 89-78 road win at Athinaikos Qualco.
On the front foot early with Hempe and opening up a 13-0 lead, the visitors prospered from center eventually harvesting a magnificent 29 points and 11 rebounds.
Being ahead throughout came in useful later when Athinaikos came roaring back. The Greek hosts made it a one-shot game in the last quarter, but with Bankole also coming to the party for Zaragoza with 5 triples in a 26 point haul, they eased to victory. Victoria Macaulay collected 24 points and 6 boards for the still winless Athinaikos.
Wednesday, October 21
Lotto AZS UMCS Lublin 71-74 ZVVZ USK Praha CS Rapid Bucuresti 51-101 Fenerbahce Tarfin Athinaikos Qualco 78-89 Casademont Zaragoza Basket Landes 67-73 Kibirkstis-TOKS Valencia Basket Club 63-77 Flammes Carolo Basket Tango Bourges Basket 79-74 Emlak Konut
Thursday, October 22
Beretta Famila Schio vs KKZ Crvena Zvezda Kangoeroes Basket Mechelen vs Galatasaray Cagdas Faktoring
FIBA