Fenerbahce go four in a row, Polkowice get it done again with more drama

MUNICH (Germany) - Things are heating up in EuroLeague Women after Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding continued to show their teeth and surprise package BC Polkowice claimed yet another hugely impressive scalp.

After their indifferent start to the campaign, Fenerbahce are picking up more impressive wins with each passing week, their latest a 72-66 one at Valencia Basket Club. There was little to choose between the teams throughout, but the Turkish side suffocated their hosts and restricted them to just 8 points in the second quarter to take the upper hand.

Kayla McBride stepped off court with a game-high 20 points for Fenerbahce to take them to 4-2, while rising star Raquel Carrera impressed for Valencia with 17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in defeat. 

The Game of the Week certainly lived up to its top billing as BC Polkowice continued to occupy top spot in Group A after securing a memorable and dramatic 63-62 success at Tango Bourges Basket. It was an amazing contest and nail-biting final 60 seconds as the Polish team came back from what had looked like being only their second loss of the season.

Trailing by two possessions inside the last minute, a triple from Zala Friskovec and two free-throws from Artemis Spanou iced the deal for Pokowice, although they collectively held their breath when Bourges guard Alix Duchet rimmed out from the corner on the buzzer. 

Steph Mavunga had 9 points, 12 rebounds and 4 steals for Polkowice, with 19 and 14 points from Erica Wheeler and Zala Friskovec also critical. The loss was tough on Yvonne Anderson who claimed 25 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for the now 3-3 Bourges. 

ZVVZ USK Praha shrugged off the absence of injured backcourt leader Teja Oblak to get back to winning ways with a commanding 95-63 triumph against an Olympiacos SFP team yet to taste victory this season.

It was Maria Conde who led the Czech team and ended their mini losing run as the Spaniard starred with a super 32 points and 7 assists. Veronika Vorackova also stepped up to produce her best of the season so far with 17 points as Praha moved to 4-2 in Group A.

Atomeromu KSC Szekszard grabbed their third win of the campaign by outpacing Virtus Segafredo Bologna 73-64. The home team were ruthless in punishing their Italian rivals for errors and converted a massive 27 points from turnovers which contributed to both teams now being sat with identical 3-3 records. 

Ruthy Hebard was the pick of the Szekszard performers with 19 points and 6 rebounds in a sharp-shooting effort, although Kitija Laksa was the highest scorer in the contest after firing 23 points in defeat.

Perfumerias Avenida look to be on course to finish the season top of Group B at the moment as they are flying and have five wins from their opening six games. They were too hot to handle for DVTK Hun-Therm, who were sunk 94-52 at Pabellon Wurzburg.

Avenida found another gear altogether in the second-half to sweep DVTK brutally aside. Experienced guard Silvia Dominguez led by example with 15 points and 7 assists, while Aleksandra Crvendakic top-scored with 16 points.

Beretta Famila Schio are also riding high in Group B with an eye-catching 5-1 record although they had to work incredibly hard to dodge a potential bullet from Kangoeroes Mechelen, who were eventually edged out 74-70.  A sparkling 25 points, 5 rebounds and 4 blocks from Morgan Bertsch kept the Belgian visitors in contention for a surprise success.

However, Schio hung on and on a night to forget from long-range, it was some smart displays in the paint that got the job done. Astou Ndour and Jasmine Keys finished with 13 and 17 points resepctively.

Sopron Basket scored almost half of their entire points of the game in the last 10 minutes of their contest at Basket Landes. A huge 26-13 last quarter banked them a precious 61-50 win on French soil. 

Another clinical effort from Australian center Ezi Magbegor was central as she went 7 of 8 from the field en-route to 15 points. But it was mainly the veteran expertise and play of Jelena Brooks that stood out after the forward logged a fine 22 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.

There was also a winning start for new CBK Mersin Yenisehir Bld head coach Ekrem Memnun as he watched his side lock down visiting Spar Girona 64-50. The hosts were in control after a 25-13 opening quarter and had no cause to look back with Girona misfiring.

Chelsea Gray was terrific and amassed 23 points, 9 assists and 3 steals to help Mersin improve to 3-3 - the same record as Girona, who didn't have a single player offering a double-digit scoring return. 

FIBA