Roundup: Yakin Dogu Universitesi continue to rise

ISTANBUL (EuroLeague Women / EuroCup Women) – The meteoric rise of Yakin Dogu Universitesi continues after the ambitious club moved into top spot of the Turkish League with a stunning win at Galatasaray.

YAKIN DOGU MAKE ANOTHER STATEMENT

It was Kayla McBride who once again showed her qualities with 20 points and 10 boards in a dazzling 81-60 victory against a shocked Galatasaray, who like their opponents, had also booked their place in the EuroCup Women Quarter-Finals last week.

It condemned the Istanbul giants to successive defeats and there was a sense of déjà vu as Yakin Dogu took top spot because Fenerbahce also lost for the second week in a row, after going down 79-74 at home to high-flying Bellona Agu who had Chelsea Gray with 26 points.

Hatay are up to their highest point of the season in fifth after completing an exciting 64-61 triumph against Besiktas, with Natalie Hurst top-scoring with 16 points.

Mid-table Mersin fell 70-58 at Adana Aski and will need to keep an eye over their shoulder for the teams in the lower part of the standings – with several teams getting rare wins.

TOP FIVE TAKE WINS IN LFB

There were no weekend shocks in the French League as all the leading teams picked up wins, including joint-leaders BLMA and Flammes Carolo Basket. The former had to dodge a bullet, 74-70, at Tarbes, while Carolo prevailed 81-75 at Hainaut as Amel Bouderra racked up another brilliant double-double with 26 points and 10 assists.

Another playmaker lit it up at Basket Landes as Celine Dumerc scored 20 points in an 87-73 success against Nantes to keep her team in third spot. Alina Iagupova exploded for 27 points as ESBVA-LM beat Nice 78-70, while Bourges benefitted from 17 points from Clarissa Dos Santos as they outpaced Lyon 80-63 on the road.

REYER VENEZIA SLIP-UP IN TITLE RACE

There was a setback for Reyer Venezia in the Italian title race after they lost ground on leaders Gesam Gas Lucca to leave Beretta Famila Schio in second place. Venezia were defeated 65-54 at lowly Broni in a shock loss.

Schio romped past Saces Dike Napoli 81-59 with Jolene Anderson leading the way with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Passalacqua Ragusa eased past Umbertide 64-58 after 22 points and 10 rebounds from Astou Ndour.

ELSEWHERE IN EUROPE

In the Russian Premier League, Dynamo Kursk sailed to an 80-56 win at MBA Moscow as Les Bleus center Helena Ciak impressed with 16 points. Leaders UMMC Ekaterinburg had their offense slowed down by Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje but still won 64-54, while Nadezhda roared past Dynamo Novosibirsk 73-56 as Amanda Zahui contributed 17 points.

There was derby agony for CCC Polkowice as they went down 59-56 against Sleza Wroclaw on their home floor, with former player Sharnee Zoll scoring 13 points to rub salt into the wounds. Leaders Wisla Can-Pack won 80-57 at Energa Torun.

After a difficult week losing the Copa De La Reina Final and being dumped out of EuroCup Women, Spar Citylift Girona bounced back with an 88-61 win at Quesos El Pastor behind 20 points from Leonor Rodriguez. Leaders Avenida beat Gernika 71-56, as Silvia Dominguez handed out 11 assists.

There was a setback for DBBL title hopefuls Rutronik Stars Keltern as the German side lost ground on leaders TSV 188 Wasserburg with just their third loss of the season. They went down 69-67 at Eisvogel USC Freiburg.

FIBA