SALAMANCA (Spain) - The EuroCup Women field is wide open ahead of the Quarter-Finals and we're exploring the reasons why Perfumerias Avenida can believe they can be crowned 2019 champions.

Avenida face Nadezhda in the last eight of the competition and will go up against the familiar faces of the Russian team's Spanish contingent of Victor Lapena, Laura Nicholls and Sandra Ygueravide.

But we're looking beyond that and at why silverware could end up at Pabellon Wurzburg.

1. The world class skills of WNBA champion Jewell Lloyd

The mid-season addition of a reigning WNBA champion and gold medal winner at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018 in Tenerife, gives Avenida a game-winner and big-time scoring threat they were previously missing. Lloyd has averaged around 14 points per game during her outings in EuroLeague Women and could be the difference-maker in this tie. Avenida always had that strong team ethic and reliable backbone, but now they have a marquee player and big time clutch operator who is likely to have a big say in this tie.

2. The 'Blue Tide' at Pabellon Wurzburg

There are few better places than Salamanca to watch the magic of the women's game and while this season has been flatter than most because of some disappointing results (leading to a change of playcaller back to Miguel Ortega), this is where the fans come alive. The famous 'Blue Tide' will know that for all of their ups and downs in EuroLeague Women, they can help their team enormously by creating that intense and incredible atmosphere that makes it so difficult for their opponents. In these past couple of seasons, plenty of giants have been slain - including UMMC and Fenerbahce for example, so expect the volume to be turned up to the max!

3. The defensive pressure

You have to be strong mentally as a visiting player to perform at Pabellon Wurzburg with the deafening wall of noise cascading down on you, but also because of the fact that Avenida will know this is their time to turn the defensive screw. When they were not getting the wins earlier in the season, it was the defense that let them down. It looks like the momentum is changing and all that veteran experience in the likes of Elin Eldebrink, Silvia Dominguez, Krisi Givens, Adaora Elonu and Angelica Robinson for example, will allow them to put the squeeze on their rivals. The returning former Avenida head coach Victor Lapena will know that the combination of the fans and defensive pressure will make it a tough outing for his team.

FIBA