MUNICH (Germany) - Galatasaray Cagdas Factoring continue to chase silverware this season after they breezed into the Play-Offs, while InvestInTheWest Enea Gorzow guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough erupted to send her team through. The duo were joined on Thursday night by Serbian side Crvena Zvezda and Italian outfit, Geas Basket.
Meanwhile on Wednesday evening there was joy for former EuroCup Women champions LDLC ASVEL Feminin, Tarbes Gespe Bigorre, Spanish duo Movistar Estudiantes and BAXI Ferrol, plus ex-EuroLeague Women champions, Sopron Basket who all landed in the Play Offs.
Key Storylines
Istanbul giants Galatasaray get it done to jump to the next phase as Zandalasini debuts;
Another Dominique Malonga double-double takes ASVEL into the Play-Offs;
Gorzow, Crvena Zvezda and Geas Basket also take Thursday night wins to make the post-season;
Post-Season spots on Wednesday for Tarbes, Estudiantes, Ferrol and Sopron.
Weekly Highs
Efficiency: Catherine Reese (Kangoeroes Mechelen) - 35 Points: Catherine Reese (Kangoeroes Mechelen) - 29 Rebounds: Elizabeth Dixon (Panathinaikos) - 18 Assists: Romane Bernies (BLMA) - 15 Steals: Isabel Latorre (Movistar Estudiantes) - 7 Blocks: Multiple Players - 3
More Play-Off tickets punched; Walker-Kimbrough on fire
EuroCup Women frontrunners Galatasaray Cagdas Factoring have wrapped up a Play-Off place after they eased past Sportiva/AzorisHotels 76-44. The performance was paced by 16 points and 8 boards from Jisu Park, while Cecilia Zandalasini made her first EuroCup Women appearance in the club's colors.
Also on Thursday night, InvestInTheWest Enea Gorzow celebrated making the next stage as they took a 92-48 victory at Solemare by the sea AEL. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough as sensational with a near triple-double of 17 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists. Crvena Zvezda also celebrated as they won 73-38 at AEO Proteas Voulas, mainly off the back of 15 points and 9 boards from Emily Potter. Italian side Geas Basket also booked their place after firstly taking care of business by beating Basket Namur Capitale 81-49 before watching Besiktas JK take down SL Benfica in a result that sealed the deal.
Malonga still tearing it up; Sopron strike back
From her headline grabbing dunking exploits to now consistently putting up big numbers, French teenager Dominque Malonga is still on fire. The center contributed a double-double of 12 points and 14 boards as LDLC ASVEL Feminin won 89-47 at Levhartice Chomutov to progress.
Sopron Basket overturned a double-digit deficit at Charnay Basket with a devastating 25-1 last quarter to take their spot. The 71-53 success was fuelled by a sparkling 23 points from Slovenia ace Zala Friskovec.
Moviestar Estudiantes powered their way into the Play-Offs with a one-sided 102-38 victory against Iraklis STIHL as young German star Frieda Buhner stood out again with a 19-point effort.
BAXI Ferrol had to battle through the Qualifiers and now they are looking forward to extending their run beyond the Regular Season. They eased out KP TANY Brno 79-59 thanks mainly to 16 points and 13 boards from Claire Melia.
Tarbes Gespe Bigorre were dominant 86-53 against TARR KSC Szekszard as Murjanatu Musa excelled yet again with a monstrous 20 points and 16 rebounds.
Finally, on an action-packed evening, Spar Girona suffered a first loss as La Molisana Campobasso enjoyed coming out on top 97-90 in an entertaining overtime shootout. Que Morrison went to work for the Italians with a game-high 25 points.
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