Lointek Gernika Bizkaia duo headline Top Performers

MUNICH (EuroCup Women) – The business end of the EuroCup Women season tipped off with Play-Off Round 1 on Thursday, with bottom-seeded Lointek Gernika Bizkaia springing the biggest surprise of the night.

The Spanish side are taking a 15-point advantage into the second leg against Galatasaray after defeating the title holders 84-69. Valeriya Berezhynska stole the spotlight with an all-action 19 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals to record an efficiency ranking of 33 and claim Top Performer honors.

Berezhynska's inside presence was perfectly complemented by Blake Dietrick's guard play, as the 25-year-old also racked up 19 points, including 4-of-6 three-point shooting, and dished out 9 assists to join her teammate on the Team of the Week.

The backcourt is completed by Kelsey Mitchell after she led Besiktas JK to a convincing 83-59 win over fellow Turkish side Orman Genclik. The 23-year-old guard was unstoppable, as she fired 36 points, and added 6 rebounds and 5 assists for an efficiency of 31.

The lineup is rounded out under the basket by Artego Bydgoszcz's Ziomara Morrison and Botas Spor's Elizabeth Williams. Morrison accumulated a 23-point, 10-rebound double-double to lead Bydgoszcz to a valuable 72-66 away win at Basketball Nymburk.

Botas Spor lost their encounter at MBA Moscow, 76-77, but are still favorites to overturn the narrow deficit in the return leg at home, especially with Williams in fine form. The US center matched the week-high efficiency of 33 after posting an impressive 24 points, 15 rebounds, 3 steals and 4 blocks.

FIBA