Galatasaray take second EuroCup Women title

VENICE (EuroCup Women) - Galatasaray have grabbed their second EuroCup Women title after losing 72-65 at Reyer Venezia but adding to their 2009 silverware off the back of a huge first leg win in Istanbul.

Turning point: Trying to overturn a 22-point advantage from the first meeting a week earlier, Reyer Venezia halved the deficit with three minutes to go in the third quarter. Having just drained a huge triple moments earlier, Riquna Williams had a wide-open look for another to continue the impressive momentum and perhaps put doubts into the minds of Galatasaray at a possible 14-point advantage. But, it rimmed out and the visitors went down the floor and profited from a lucky drop off the glass as Kaela Davis made a big three-pointer. 

Stats don't lie: The visitors eased any pressure with cool heads from the free-throw line by making 19-of-21. They also kept Venezia off the glass, winning the rebound battle 41-33.

Game heroes: She may have been on the fringes of late and not a central figure for the title winners, but Davis chose the perfect time to have her best game in a Galatasaray vest and of her short overseas career. The WNBA star shone with 21 points and proved to be the difference-maker. The towering Gintare Petronyte was also a rock again, dropping the anchor in the paint for a stellar double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds. 

They said: "I am so proud and it is special to do it in front of the travelling Galatasaray fans who always follow us wherever we go. They showed what it means to them in that first leg when we had such a big crowd to help us get the big win. I am so happy even though we lost this second game. We were focused to win, but what is most important is that we won a title for this great club and its supporters," Galatasaray center, Gintare Petronyte

FIBA