Gyor claim first win; Fenerbahce back to their best and Zaragaoza win a thriller
MUNICH (Germany) - Serco UNI Gyor celebrated a first victory of the campaign on Wednesday night, while Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding moved up a gear and Casademont Zaragoza took their first ever road win.
Elsewhere, Villeneuve d'Ascq LM inflicted a first defeat of the season on Virtus Segafredeo Bologna, while there was a road win for ZVVZ USK Praha and home victories for both Valencia Basket Club and the still unbeaten DVTK Hun-Therm.
Fourth time lucky for Serco UNI Gyor
After opening the campaign with three straight losses, Serco UNI Gyor are off the mark as they claimed their first victory by riding past Basket Landes 79-66. It was Destiny Slocum who excelled with a superb showing and also a blistering second period when the hosts outscored the French visitors 30-14.
Slocum finished the contest with a brilliant 26 points, 4 assists, 3 blocks and 3 rebounds, while her teammate Dora Ruff-Nagy played a nice cameo with 8 points, 7 assists and 5 boards.
Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding still flawless
Having struggled to ease out Casademont Zaragoza is their previous outing, Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding found their usual gear again in the Game of the Week matchup with Beretta Famila Schio. They soared past their rivals 90-64, with Emma Meesseman posting her best game of the new season so far.
The Turkish giants jumped out with a stylish 29-14 opening quarter and engaged cruise control as their Belgian star harvested 24 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Fellow forward Natasha Howard made it a rough night in the paint for Schio by adding a further 21 points for the dominant and now 4-0 Fenerbahce.
New playcaller Orak gets rolling with Cukurova
After departing ways with Roberto Iniguez, a new page was turned for Cukurova Basketbol Mersin with their new head coach Osman Olcay Orak as he got off to a winning start. His new team were too hot to handle for the in-form KGHM BC Polkowice as they collected an eye-catching 77-57 victory.
Out of sight after a red hot 27-9 opening salvo, Cukurova pushed on to show why they are looking for a Final Four repeat this season. Alina Iagupova and Marina Mabrey were unstoppable and fuelled the win. The former registered 19 points, 7 assist, 5 rebounds and 4 steals, while Mabrey did the business alongside her colleague with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.
Another famous night for Casademont Zaragoza
Weeks after taking a maiden EuroLeague Women victory in front of their home fans, Casademont Zaragoza can also now proudly boast a first road win in the competition. They squeezed out LDLC ASVEL Feminin 67-64 in a real nail-biter that boosts Zaragoza to 2-2 for the season and condemns ASVEL to an unthinkable 0-4 record.
Tanaya been cooking all season long:
— EuroLeague Women (@EuroLeagueWomen) October 25, 2023
16 PTS 5 REB 3 AST as Zaragoza get a big road win! ❤️🦁#EuroLeagueWomen pic.twitter.com/gzQvKNd9EN
With nine lead changes and both teams punching back and forth at both ends of the court, it was a titanic battle that could have fallen either way. Julie Allemand did her best for ASVEL to get her team a first victory with 19 points and 6 assists but it wasn't to be. Tanaya Atkinson was a difference-maker with a 6 of 7 shooting effort for 16 points, as was Aleksa Gulbe who went 5 of 6 from the field en-route to a handy 11 points.
Highs
Efficiency: 33 – Emma Meesseman (Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding)
Points: 26 – Destiny Slocum (Serco UNI Gyor)
Rebounds: 10 – Luisa Geiselsoder (Basket Landes)
Assists: 8 – Yvonne Anderson (Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding)
Steals: 4 – Multiple players
Blocks: 6 – Ezi Magbegor (ZVVZ USK Praha)
Wednesday, October 25
Group A
DVTK HUN-Therm 74-44 Polski Cukier AZS UMCS Lublin
Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding 90-64 Beretta Famila Schio
Valencia Basket Club 68-57 ACS Sepsi-SIC
LDLC ASVEL Feminin 64-67 Casademont Zaragoza
Group B
Cukurova Basketbol Mersin 77-57 KGHM BC Polkowice
Serco UNI Gyor 79-66 Basket Landes
Villeneuve d'Ascq LM 78-62 Virtus Segafredo Bologna
Perfumerias Avenida 53-64 ZVVZ USK Praha
FIBA