Regular Season spots secured by Sepsi-SIC, DVTK and Polkowice

MUNICH (Germany) - It proved to be a memorable and historic night as the curtain fell on the EuroLeague Women Qualifiers, with ACS Sepsi-SIC securing their first ever trip to the Regular Season.

After previously falling short at this stage on more than once occasion, the Romanian side celebrated in style on the final buzzer of their game against TTT Riga as their nail-biting 63-62 win saw them advance. They landed on Latvian soil with a very modest five point advantage from the first leg and so the outcome of the tie was always in the balance.

Even when head coach Zoran Mikes and his team moved ahead by as many as 11 points in the game and by 16 on aggregate, the now Euro Cup Women bound TTT Riga never eased off. They rallied in the last quarter to set up a tense ending,  but Sepsi kept their nerve behind a fine 21 points from Ellen Nystrom, plus 16 points from Borislava Hristova and a spectacular 15 assists from Morgan Green.

DVTK Hun-Therm always looked favorites to progress having secured a precious 15-point advantage against London Lions last week and so it proved. They claimed successive Regular Season berths despite going down 73-72 to the visitors in a matchup where Lions struggled to post the kind of run they needed to sow doubt in the minds of the Hungarians.

Holly Winterburn did her best to inspire with an all-action 27 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals which included seven triples. Her contribution alongside 20 points from Megan Gustafson fuelled London, but DVTK were still able to keep pace. Darcee Garbin netted 16 points, Kaila Charles added 14 and Nina Aho dished up 8 assists. 

KGHM BC Polkowice took the last remaining Regular Season place on offer with a 78-64 victory against Besiktas JK. While only one score separated the teams in Istanbul, it was a different matter this time as the superior depth of the Polish team won out. 

They put their foot on the gas in the later stages as the contest unfolded and were powered by some eye-catching contributions. Nika Baric used her experience to come up with 12 points and 7 assists, Brianna Fraser claimed a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Jovana Nogic replied with 18 points and 8 assists for Besiktas, who now join London and TTT Riga in EuroCup Women. 

FIBA