MUNICH (Germany) - There was joy for Flammes, Carolo Basket, Emlak Konut, Kibirkstis-TOKS and KKZ Crvena Zvezda who all claimed the wins they needed in the EuroLeague Women Qualifiers Finals to reach the Regular Season.
The quartet all had to firstly navigate last week's Qualifiers Semi-Finals, prior to finishing the job and making the main phase of this year's flagship competition.
Meanwhile the four losing clubs in DVTK HUNTHERM, Sopron Basket, Umana Reyer Venezia and Spar Girona, will all take their place in the EuroCup Women Regular Season.
Classy Carolo surprise with runaway road win
A dominant Carolo Basket came away from Venice with a brilliant 81-55 victory as they powered their way into the First Round against an opponent who many had down as favorites to progress. However the visitors tore up the script and having started strongly, they never looked back to leave the hosts trailing in their wake.
Tiffany Clarke put in some serious work to eventually finish with 20 points, while Coline Franchelin caught the eye too. The guard harvested 16 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds, while the 13 points and 7 boards of Koi Love were also fundamental. Only Francesca Pasa performed in defeat with 12 points and 4 steals for the disappointed hosts.
First ever ticket for history-makers Emlak Konut
There was also a big road win for Emlak Konut who leaped past Girona for a landmark 81-69 win that propelled them into the Regular Season for the first time. On a momentous night, it was Reka Lelik and Pallas Kunaiyi who brought the noise for the Turkish club as their team resisted a late rescue bid from the home team.
Hungarian national team standout Lelik stepped off court with a spectacular 29 points as she pulled the strings with a superb display. Kunaiyi did the damage in the paint with a stellar double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds.
Shooting ace Wadoux fires Kibirkstis through
Another three-point show from Zoe Wadoux paved the way for a fantastic 81-62 Kibirkstis-TOKS road win at former EuroLeague Women champions, Sopron Basket. Having lit it up from long-range in the Semi-Finals, the French guard caught fire once more and finished with 27 points after sinking six triples.
Her headline effort included 4 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 assists, while also underpinned by 18 points and 6 bords from teammate Nausia Woolfolk. The Lithuanian visitors led from tip to buzzer and kept Sopron at arms' length for the majority of the contest, with little to cheer for the losing side except for 16 points from Masa Jankovic.
Crvena Zvezda come up big down the stretch
Serbian side ZKK Crvena Zvezda collected a memorable 71-66 success at DVTK as they scored 8 of the last 11 points to depart Miskolc clutching their Regular Season ticket. It was an intense struggle throughout, but a shared 36 points from Aliyah Collier and Destanni Henderson proved vital.
There was also a typically all-action double-double from experienced Greek forward Artemis Spanou who put up 13 points and 12 rebounds. DVTK made 10 three-pointers in the game, but couldn't find the composure they needed in the closing moments to take the victory that the home fans craved.
FIBA