EuroLeague Women – Turkey’s teams win; UMMC clinch third straight road triumph

ISTANBUL (EuroLeague Women) - It's not only men's basketball in Turkey that's making waves across Europe.

In the months after the 2010 FIBA World Championship, the women's teams are also chalking up important wins.

Fenerbahce may have the most talented roster on the continent with USA basketball icon Diana Taurasi, the last two FIBA World Championship for Women MVPs Penny Taylor of Australia (2006) and Hana Horakova of the Czech Republic (2010) and Turkey national team center Nevriye Yilmaz.

They clinched a fourth straight victory in the EuroLeague Women on Wednesday by beating MKB Euroleasing, 89-72.

Taurasi, the MVP of the last two EuroLeague Women Final Fours as a player at Sparta&K Moscow Region, led the way with 26 points while Taylor contributed 16 along with 12 rebounds.

Horakova scored 12 and Yilmaz had seven with seven boards.

Galatasaray also claimed an important triumph, thrashing VICI Aistes 82-58 for their second win in three games.

As good as Fenerbahce appear to be, they will have an incredible time on their hands come November 24 when travelling to Russia to face another team that's unbeaten, UMMC Ekaterinburg.

UMMC clinched a third straight win on the road on Wednesday by defeating Rivas Ecopolis in Madrid, 76-54.

One team that avoided a third straight defeat was ZVVZ USK Prague and they did so by winning at home against Sparta&K.

Eva Viteckova poured in 22 points as Prague edged a close encounter, 73-72.

The four-time defending champions of Europe, Sparta&K, are now 1-2.

"It is a very important victory after two defeats, we couldn´t afford to lose another game at home," said Prague coach Lubor Blazek.

"Sparta&k is a very strong team and that is what makes victory even more valuable.

"To win, you need sometimes a little bit of luck and we had it today.

"Our players played with all their heart and had their leaders tonight - it doesn't work without them."

In other games, Gorzow won 74-61 over Frisco Sika Brno, TTT Riga lost 77-60 at home to Good Angels Kosice, Halcon Avenida prevailed 77-72 at Tarbes, Bourges triumphed over visiting Nadezhda 82-72 and Ros Casares romped 76-67 at Beretta-Famila Schio.

FIBA