EuroLeague Women: Quarter Finals Gameday 1
For the eight teams who cleared the group stage, they now have everything to play for, and everything to lose, as the quarter finals of the 2017-18 Euroleague Women gets underway. Every game counts in this business end of the competition, with the first teams to win two games in each tie advancing to the final four. It's as much a test of nerve as basketball ability.
Here's a full rundown of all the night's action:
Dynamo Kursk kept their unbeaten streak in this year’s Euroleague alive with a conclusive win over Schio. The Italian team led by five early on, but following that their play turned stale despite 16 points from Isabel Yacoubou. Kursk were at their best while on the offensive end, scoring 62% from the field and putting up 38 points in the paint. Finishing with 17 points, Epiphany Prince was on fire for Kursk in this one, with the final score 73-61 in the Russian team’s favour.
Against Sopron, Fenerbahce looked good after an early ten-point unanswered run, but the Hungarian team had plenty of time to catch up. Aleksandra Crevndakic led Sorpon on offence - she led her team in scoring with 15 points, missing only two shots on the night - and her team took control of the game in the somewhat stilted second quarter.
Crevndakic made it a one-possession game at the most exciting phase of the game, mid-way through the third quarter. Kia Vaughan immediately responded for Fenerbahce, putting up eight unanswered points herself, keeping her team on top ahead of the decisive fourth quarter. In the final period, though, Sopron flatlined, leaving the door open for Fenerbahce to assert themselves. Sopron made one last push at the end, getting to within three, but couldn’t force the issue any more. Fenerbahce emerge winners of this thrilling first game of the series, 60 to 55.
Eight unanswered for Bourges's Valeriane Ayayi put them up by eight early on against Yakin Dogu. It didn’t take long for the Turkish club to tie the scores, and a jump shot from Courtney Vandersloot with thirty seconds left put them ahead by two at the end of the first. The teams jostled for possession throughout the seconds quarter, with both making shots from the same spots on the floor.
Courtney Vandersloot opened the second half with a three, the first of seventeen points made by Yakin Dogu in the first five minutes of the third. With Bourges failing to protect the ball and hold onto possession, this was when Yakin Dogu started to pull away. Laia Palau did her best to try and turn the tables for Bourges in the fourth, but with Kayla McBride (23 points) and Courtney Vandersloot (17 points, 13 rebounds) on fire to the very end, there was nothing that could be done. Yakin Dogu earned the 16-point victory here with a dominant second-half showing.
Meanwhile, an incredible 29 points - including five threes - from Maya Moore for Ekaterinburg was indicative of her team’s performance against USK Praha. After one period of play Ekaterinburg led Praha 26 points to 7, and the team scored more than 20 in each quarter. Katerina Elhotova put in an otherwise excellent showing for Praha: scoring more than half of all her attempts and making three from outside as part of her team-leading 17 points. However, this paled in comparison to the showing from Ekaterinburg.
With their front court putting up 38 points in the paint, their shooters knocking down twelve from long range and their defence grabbing 33 rebounds, Ekaterinburg were unstoppable as they charged to victory, 97-70. If this form continues, Praha will have a big fight ahead of them in game two if they are to stay alive in the competition.
As well as Praha, Bourges, Schio and Sopron all need victories in game two, all which will take place on March 7th. Until then, for news and updates and full information on every Euroleague Women game, visit the official website.
