MUNICH (EuroLeague Women) - Our women's basketball specialist Paul Nilsen gives us his take on all the EuroLeague Women action from Week 12 of the Regular Season.

HATS OFF TO HATAY

It has been a roller-coaster first EuroLeague Women season for Hatay, but I am hugely impressed with the way they have moved themselves into an excellent position after a sticky start. Cast your mind back and you may recall that the Turkish newcomers actually lost their first four games in the competition. Three of them were against the top three teams in Group B.

Now we can categorically say that Hatay have found their feet with three wins in their last four games transforming their chances of not only a place in the EuroCup Women Quarter-Finals - but maybe even a fairytale top four finish in this tournament!

Much of this has been down to a real colossus in the paint in Courtney Paris who has been outstanding as of late, while the experience of Belarus wing Katsiaryna Snytsina remains priceless. 

I thought this week something important happened when they didn't play great and struggled to put away bottom placed CCC Polkowice 58-54. What was important is that they showed they can win under pressure and also win ugly.

Their biggest challenge now is perhaps that all of a sudden, they have glory within their grasp with just two more Regular Season games remaining. Will that change the mentality? It will be fascinating to see if they can really keep the momentum going and whatever happens, a 5-7 record is an excellent one after that rough start to the campaign.

THE WEEKLY GONGS

Team Performance of the Week: I thought Dynamo Kursk were sensational at ZVVZ USK Prague as they stretched their unbeaten run to 12 games, but I have to hand it to Beretta Famila Schio. That was a must-win game against BLMA who they are fighting with for the last Quarter-Final place in Group A. Under pressure they not only won, but did so in real style 70-53 to also take the head-to-head. Well done to Miguel Mendez and his team!

Individual Performance of the Week: While Sopron are known for their strong Serbian contingent, it was one of their compatriots who put them to the sword in Salamanca as Jelena Milovanovic dropped 23 points in an 84-67 victory. That took Perfumerias Avenida to the cusp of a Quarter-Final place in Group B.

Unsung Hero of the Week: Hatay center Dragana Stankovic scored 10 points in 16 minutes from a smart five of six from the floor, to help her side grind out that precious win against CCC Polkowice.

NUMBER CRUNCHING

- Brittney Griner became the first player this season to block six shots in a game after accomplishing the feat for UMMC against ESBVA-LM.

- Uniqa Sopron spilled the ball 28 times at Perfumerias Avenida and that was the second highest number of turnovers by any team this season.

FOOTNOTES

- I really enjoyed seeing the injured Schio star Isabelle Yacoubou courtside watching her team play BLMA alongside French Federation President, Jean-Pierre Siutat, who she asked to confirm via social media which team he was supporting! Bit tricky when there is a French team playing but Schio have the wonderful Endene Miyem - and of course you are sat to Isabelle!

- While it wasn't strictly her first game back in the competition, it was good to see Romania national team forward Claudia Pop back with Wisla Can-Pack having recovered from a serious injury. It was even more satisfying seeing her get 14 minutes of court time and scoring six points against Fenerbahce!

You can follow Paul @basketmedia365

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