EuroLeague Women Quarter-Finals preview: Friday 10 March

MUNICH (EuroLeague Women) - It's the second game night of the EuroLeague Women Quarter-Finals as a quartet of clubs look to punch their tickets to the Final Four.

For the other teams who lost their opener, it's a case of survival and now or never - with Perfumerias Avenida one of those sides, having lost 78-68 against Fenerbahce in Istanbul.

Yet despite this, hopes are high they can level the series 1-1 with a victory at Pabellon Wurzburg.

"Fenerbahce are a very strong team, but I think we did a very good job for the first three quarters," reflected Avenida forward, Adaora Elonu.

"We want to win on our home court as we really want to return to Istanbul again."

Avenida play-caller Miguel Ortega was similarly positive and added: "We did a very good job, especially on defense.

"But we have to be more aggressive on offense and if we can create more shooting chances on our own court, it will be great."

Avenida will also have to do a better job on shackling Birsel Vardarli Demirmen, who had nine assists and seven steals in the first meeting.

Tango Bourges Basket almost caused the upset of the season by inflicting a loss on the flawless Dynamo Kursk, but just ran out of steam as they went down 76-71.

"We made a great game, but it is impossible to win when they came back with 23 offensive and 28 defensive rebounds," said Bourges captain Jo Leedham, who returned from a long-term injury for the trip.

"We played well, but you have no chances for mistakes with such rivals as Dynamo Kursk," added head coach, Valerie Garnier.

"So, when our players  became exhausted, we couldn't keep the same pace and rhythm of the game - but we still have a chance at home."

Elsewhere, ZVVZ USK Prague are on a four-game losing streak and while veteran play-caller Natalia Hejkova certainly knows what it is like to win EuroLeague Women many times over, things are not going to plan.

She gave a fascinating insight into her team's eye-opening 80-57 defeat at Nadezhda.

@TiffMitch25 pic.twitter.com/HHEiA1cGBr

— Nikita Matvienko (@NikitaMatvienk5) March 8, 2017

"The leaders of the team have not played well and our defense worked out badly," explained Hejkova.

"One more important factor is the psychology. When you have a young team, it is simpler to cope with nervousness and pressure.

"To skilled and experienced players in this situation, it feels heavier to them because they know the price of their mistakes in these Play-Offs."

Lastly, defending champions UMMC will be confident of a quick return to the Final Four when they step out in Italy off the back of Tuesday's comprehensive 92-47 triumph against Beretta Famila Schio.

However, UMMC head coach Olaf Lange is taking nothing for granted and warned: "We must forget about it and get ready for game two because a few years ago, we lost to Schio on the road.

"They will also have Jolene Anderson back and it will be a completely different game."

EuroLeague Women Quarter-Finals (Game 2):

Beretta Famila Schio v UMMC Ekaterinburg
ZVVZ USK Prague v Nadezhda
Tango Bourges Basket v Dynamo Kursk
Perfumerias Avenida v Fenerbahce

To view the EuroLeague Women Quarter-Finals go to livebasketball.tv

FIBA