History for Spar Girona, Galatasaray book Quarter-Finals derby with Fenerbahce

MUNICH (Germany) - Spar Girona and Galatasaray have both secured places in the EuroLeague Women Quarter-Finals after high drama on Friday night.

Spar Girona made history as they reached the post-season for the first time in a nail-biting affair against Famila Schio. Needing to win or avoid defeat by a margin of 5 points or more, they were beaten 77-74 in a dramatic finale as Schio missed a last second shot which would have sent the Italians through.

It was an epic roller-coaster, with Natalie Achonwa the player who couldn't convert right at the death, having been otherwise outstanding with 28 points and 8 rebounds.

Julia Reisingerova top-scored for Girona with 18 points, the Spanish side finishing the game with assistant coach David Munoz at the helm after head coach Alfred Julbe Bosch was ejected earlier in the contest. Spar Girona will now face Perfumerias Avenida and their former playcaller Roberto Iniguez in the last eight of the competition.

Meanwhile, Galatasaray got the win they needed to make it through in Group D, managing to move past Bourges Basket 75-65 having lost to the French side only 24 hours earlier.

The victory was thanks mainly to Epiphanny Prince who harvested 20 points, with center Mercedes Russell also influential and adding 14 points and 11 rebounds. The result sets up what is going to be an intense and eagerly anticipated Quarter-Finals clash against bitter Istanbul rivals, Fenerbahce.

Perfumerias Avenida moved to 5-0 and were confirmed as Group A winners after taking a 79-70 win against Dynamo Kursk. Katie Lou Samuelson was the standout figure for a third straight game for the Spanish side, adding another 27 points to her stunning tally during the second hub. Nikolina Milic came up with a handy cameo of 13 points and 8 rebounds.

It didn't prove to be a case of third time lucky for Izmit Belediyespor as they continued their search for a first ever Regular Season triumph in the tournament. 

They let a glorious opportunity slip through their fingers as missed free-throws proved costly in an agonizing 80-78 defeat to Nadezhda. Russian duo Anastasiia Shilova and Elizaveta Komarova did the business with 17 and 16 points respectively for their team, while Erica Wheeler was unfortunate to be on the losing side with 25 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

Fenerbahce took top spot in Group B as they edged out LDLC ASVEL Feminin 67-65. Signing off their Regular Season campaign on a high, it was game-winner Alina Iagupova who fuelled the victory with 18 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals to hand the Istanbul giants a 5-1 record. Marine Johannes netted 20 points for Lyon, who who took runners-up spot with 4 wins and 2 losses to set up a Quarter-Finals meeting with Sopron Basket.

ZVVZ USK Praha will miss out on the next stage but at least signed off on a high note as they beat VBW Arka Gdynia 80-67, with their rivals ending the Regular Season 0-6. Praha were powered by 27 points and 10 rebounds from Brionna Jones, plus 16 points and 7 assists from Teja Oblak.

Meanwhile it was top against bottom in Group C as UMMC Ekaterinburg finished with a perfect six wins in as many games after coasting past TTT Riga 90-41 as the Latvians bowed out having not won a game during the campaign. Maria Vadeeva was the pick for the competition favorites with 20 points, while Brittney Griner added 11 points and 12 rebounds.

In Group D, Sopron Basket were also able to finish a flawless Regular Season as they showed their class 84-54 against Basket Landes. Jelena Brooks had a game-high 20 points, while fellow Serbian Tina Krajisnik contributed 17 points and 8 rebounds, with Gabby Williams also weighing in with 18 points.

Confirmed Quarter-Final Ties:  A1 (Perfumerias Avenida) vs C2 (Spar Girona); D1 (Sopron Basket) vs B2 (LDLC ASVEL Feminin); B1 (Fenerbahce Oznur Kablo) vs D2 (Galatasaray); C1 (UMMC Ekaterinburg) vs A2

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