Roundup: Carolo Basket still climbing skywards

CHARLEVILLE-MEZIERES (EuroLeague Women/EuroCup Women) - It's proving to be a thrilling season for Flammes Carolo Basket who are not only unbeaten in EuroCup Women, but are at the forefront of the LFB title race.

BOUDERRA STILL INSPIRING CAROLO BASKET
The Charleville-Mezieres based side completed a dramatic and pivotal 71-70 win against Bourges over the weekend. Playmaker Amel Bouderra was just one assist short of a double-double, while Hhadydia Minte fired 23 points to ensure the visitors dropped to fourth spot.

Carolo Basket are locked at the top of the standings with BLMA who stormed to a 92-62 home triumph against Lyon as Geraldine Robert continued her good work of late with 19 points.

ESBVA-LM finally appear to be hitting some form as they took a derby win at Hainaut Basket, eventually prevailing 72-61 as Marielle Amant netted 19 points.

Basket Landes also enjoyed a victory against their neighbors after riding to an 84-78 win at Tarbes, with Celine Dumerc registering a brilliant 21 points and 10 assists.

Cavigal Nice Basket had a setback 67-56 at Mondeville, while Nantes Reze were also sunk 71-62 at UFAB49 Angers in another derby game as the hosts moved to their new home at Trelaze.

SCHIO AND VENEZIA MAINTAIN THE PRESSURE
Both Beretta Famila Schio and Umana Reyer Venezia continue to chase down Italian league leaders Gesam Gas Lucca. They have identical 11-2 records after Schio cruised past Umbertide 78-58 with 18 points from Raffaella Masciadri who also celebrated playing in her 600th game in the league.

Ashleigh Fontenette struck 20 points in a hard fought 61-53 triumph for Venezia against Battipaglia, but there was disappointment for EuroCup Women Round of 16 side Passalacqua Ragusa who lost 66-53 at Broni.

JEFFERSON STARS IN TURKEY
The dynamic skills of Moriah Jefferson were on display for Galatasaray in the KBSL as she plundered a stellar 18 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in a 73-67 home win against Hatay.

Leaders Fenerbahce had few problems getting past Girne Universitsi 76-56 on their travels, with Alexandria Quigley landing 20 points.

Courtney Vandersloot was on fire for Yakin Dogu Universitesi in their all-EuroCup Women clash against Bellona Agu. The guard inspired the home side to a 79-72 success after harvesting a mesmerizing 25 points, six assists and six rebounds.

There was a towering performance by Gintare Petronyte for Mersin as they won 82-78 at struggling Samsun, with the Lithuanian center contributing a massive 31 points and 14 boards, with veteran playmaker Nilay Kartaltepe adding 11 assists.

RELIEF FOR PINKK-PECSI 424 IN HUNGARY
It's been the leanest season in recent memory for PINKK-Pecsi 424 who after recording a winless EuroCup Women Regular Season, finally doubled their domestic victory tally with only their second success of the campaign. A 20-point haul from Nikolett Sarok lifted them past Vasas Akademia 72-57.

Uniqa Sopron are still the favorites to retain their title after 22 points from Shenise Johnson catapulted them to a 97-68 victory at BEAC Ujbuda.

VBW CEKK Cegled scraped a 75-72 win at Miskolc, while PEAC-Pecs suffered a 64-56 loss to surprise title challengers, Atomeromu.

ELSEWHERE IN EUROPE
Polish champions Wisla Can-Pack were left rocked by a 71-55 home loss to main title rivals Sleza Wroclaw, with new signing Vanessa Gidden not enjoying her debut. CCC Polkowice took a comfortable 86-42 win at Sosnowiec as Isabelle Harrison scored 23 points.

UMMC Ekaterinburg waltzed their way to an 89-41 win against Spartak Noginsk in the Russian Premier League. There was also a huge home win for Dynamo Kursk who strolled past Dynamo Novosibirsk 95-51 as Maria Vadeeva finished with 15 points and eight boards, while Nadezhda ran out 70-54 winners at Kazanochka.

Liga Femenina leaders Perfumerias Avenida swept aside Cadi La Seu 69-51 as Gabriela Marginean scored 15 points, while Spar CityLift Girona had Ify Ibekwe to thank for their 84-75 win at home to Mann Fliter Zaragoza as she scored 19 points.

Finally, Tereza Vyoralova scored 18 points for ZVVZ USK Prague as they powered their way to a 93-48 win against Basketball Nymburk in the Czech ZBL.

FIBA