Besiktas do the double over Girona to take first ever Final spot as London await

MUNICH (Germany) - Besiktas followed the feat of London Lions 48 hours earlier by booking a place in their maiden EuroCup Women Final after edging out Spar Girona in the second leg of the Semi-Finals. 

They will now face Lions in the title game, with the British side having done the business back on Tuesday night when outlasting Umana Reyer Venice to write their own line of history.

Besiktas celebrate historic night

It always seemed likely that Besiktas would roll their way to another new peak after they claimed that fantastic 21-point home win in Istanbul during the first leg and they finished the job with a 68-66 success at Spar Girona. The result of the tie never looked in doubt after they picked up where they left off last week with a scorching opening.

They won the opening period 21-13 and that gave them an even bigger cushion to help avoid any doubts as to who was making the Final. Even if Girona took the lead late in the game, Besiktas still hit back again, with a last gasp basket from Mihaela Lazic sealing the win double. 

There was another immense and towering contribution from Yueru Li for Besiktas as she posted a double-double of 12 points and 15 rebounds, while Jovana Nogic and Dana Evans shared 28 points in the backcourt. 

Third quarter rain carries London to historic high

After that epic first meeting in Italy last week when Lions edged a blockbuster by a solitary point, this second game was always going to be another fierce duel and once again London came out on top as they claimed a famous and memorable 71-59 success.

It was a victory founded on a spectacular shooting display during the third quarter when they made it rain from long-range, as well as some lockdown defense too. Both snapped open a game which had seen big swings during the opening half, but ended with Reyer edging it 33-31 at the interval thanks to 14 points from Jessica Shepard.

However, London cut loose from distance with a flurry of three-pointers when they returned to the court, including four in a row, with Holly Winterburn dropping two huge shots in that sequence. The guard was pivotal in getting London across the finishing line as she stepped off court with 17 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds.

Meanwhile, Temi Fagbenle was also a towering figure in the victory, adding 14 points and 9 boards with frontcourt partner Megan Gustafson coming alive late  to seal the deal in contributing 19 points. But the loss was tough on Jessica Shepard who was outstanding as usual for Reyer, claiming a huge double-double of 21 points and 13 boards.

Highs

Efficiency: 27 – Jessica Shepard (Umana Reyer Venice) 
Points: 21 – Jessica Shepard (Umana Reyer Venice) 
Rebounds: 15 - Yueru Li (Besiktas)
Assists: 5 – Holly Winterburn (London Lions); Lisa Berkani (Umana Reyer Venice) 
Steals: 2 – Katsiaryna Snytsina (London Lions); Marta Canella (Spar Girona) 
Blocks: 2 – Lorela Cubaj (Umana Reyer Venice); Yueru Li (Besiktas)

Thursday, March 14

Spar Girona 66-68  Besiktas (Aggregate 126-149)

Tuesday, March 12

London Lions  71-59 Umana Reyer Venezia (Aggregate 140-127)

FIBA