Roundup: Return for Milovanovic, Fenerbahce take revenge on Yakin Dogu
MUNICH (EuroLeague / EuroCup Women) – Sopron Basket have welcomed back Jelena Milovanovic from injury and Fenerbahce prevailed over Yakin Dogu Universitesi in a dramatic Istanbul derby.
Sopron jump into pole position on Milovanovic return
Sopron Basket received a timely boost with the return of Serbia national team ace Jelena Milovanovic, as they won their top-of-the-table clash with reigning champions KSC Szekszard.
Coming back earlier than anticipated from the surgery which mended her fractured hand last week in EuroLeague Women, she wasted no time in showing what her team have missed in the Hungarian League by firing in 22 points in a 77-65 victory.
Fenerbahce take derby honors against Yakin Dogu Universitesi
Fenerbahce will play Sopron Basket this week in the second game of the EuroLeague Women Quarter-Finals and they also gave themselves a huge lift by beating Turkish League leaders and city rivals, Yakin Dogu Universitesi.
Kia Vaughn led the way with 20 points in the spine-tingling 66-65 victory.
The domestic season has been poor for Galatasaray but they did hit a high over the weekend by collecting a 72-67 win against high-flying Hatay, as Jelena Dubljevic dropped 19 points and Isil Alben handed out 10 assists.
Meanwhile, EuroCup Women Semi-Finals chasers Mersin dropped to a shock defeat at home 72-78 against Istanbul Universitesi who were powered by 27 points from Romanian star, Claudia Pop.
Setback for Carolo Basket
Title-chasing Flammes Carolo Basket were on the wrong end of a rare home defeat in the LFB as they were beaten 67-75 by Lyon as Haley Peters netted 18 points for the visiting side.
Bourges Basket continued their dominance after they won a thriller 66-68 at Basket Landes behind another classy effort from Marine Johannes, who top-scored with 19 points.
Lidija Turcinovic also plundered 19 points for Nantes Reze as they claimed an impressive 80-75 success against BLMA, while ESBVA strolled past Roche Vendee 70-53 after Johanne Gomis impressed with 19 points.
Fagbenle continues red-hot run
Temi Fagbenle is still on fire for a resurgent CCC Polkowice in the Polish League, with the British center going 9-of-11 from the floor for a team-high 19 points as her team marched past Widzew Lodz 93-74.
Another frontcourt player who did the business in the BLK was Serbian Tijana Ajdukovic, as she amassed a magnificent double-double of 27 points and 12 boards for Sleza Wroclaw in their 68-81 triumph at Poznan.
Her compatriot Dragana Stankovic also excelled, registering 18 points and 7 rebounds to carry leaders Artego Bydgoszcz past Gorzow 60-72. But, the wheels came tumbling off for Wisla CANPACK as they crashed 81-56 at AZS-UMCS Lublin.
Elsewhere in Europe
A 21-point haul from Maria Vadeeva against her former club led Dynamo Kursk to a 94-58 win against Sparta&K in the Russian Premier League. Brionna Jones collected 20 points as Nadezhda dismantled Dynamo Novosibirsk by 78-55.
Roso Buch had a team-high 17 points for Spar Citylift Girona in their 74-60 home win against Extremadura, while Liga Femenina leaders Perfumerias Avenida strolled to a 60-77 victory at Lointek Gernika Bizkaia.
Famila Schio consolidated top spot in Italy by beating Battipaglia 69-77 as veteran star Laura Macchi returned 18 points, while Reyer Venezia remained in second place after all 10 of their players got on the score sheet in a 75-62 success against Napoli.
FIBA