MUNICH (Germany) - ZVVZ USK Praha moved safely into the EuroLeague Women Second Round after winning at Uni Gyor on Thursday night. Praha became the tenth team to advance and it now means just two places are still up for grabs on the last Gameday of the First Round next week.
Basket Landes, Tango Bourges Basket and Beretta Famila Schio claimed their respective tickets on Wednesday night, with Villeneuve d'Ascq LM keeping their hopes alive with a first win of the season.
Key Storylines
Praha punch a ticket to the next phase after squeezing past Uni Gyor;
Landes slip past Perfumerias Avenida to make the Second Round and the win puts Schio through too;
A red-hot start hands a ticket to Bourges as they sweep aside struggling Olympiacos;
Villeneuve d'Ascq LM still alive and kicking after getting their first win of the season in style.
Weekly Highs
Efficiency: Brionna Jones (ZVVZ USK Praha) - 28 Points: Carla Leite (VIlleneuve d'Ascq LM) - 24 Rebounds: Kariata Diaby (Tango Bourges Basket) - 11 Assists: Yvonne Anderson (CBK Mersin) - 9 Steals: Eliska Hamzova (Zabiny Brno) - 5 Blocks: Brionna Jones (ZVVZ USK Praha) - 3
Praha too hot to handle for Gyor
ZVVZ USK Praha showed their teeth at Uni Gyor by taking an 81-76 success that propelled them into the Second Round. It was a hard-fought victory with a massive 22 lead changes and founded on exceptional displays from Valeriane Ayayi and Brionna Jones.
The pair both claimed double-doubles, with Ayayi dropping 19 points and 10 boards, while Jones finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds - as well as 3 blocks.
Party time for Landes, Bourges and Schio; rising star Leite lights it up
Basket Landes almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against Perfumerias Avenida but survived to make the Second Round in a nerve shredding 59-58 success against Perfumerias Avenida.
Ahead by 14 points after a great start, the home team had to stave off a late rescue bid from their opponents, but got the job done. Germany national team forward Luisa Geiselsoder impressed with 15 points and 8 rebounds. Tango Bourges Basket also raced out of the traps, but there was no prospect of them having to chew their fingernails. They kept their foot on the gas to complete an 82-62 win against Olympiacos. Amy Okonkwo led the way with 17 points, while Kariata DIaby claimed a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds.
A fine night for French basketball was completed by Villeneuve d'Ascq LM taking their first win with after outscoring KGHM BC Polkowice 100-83 in a result that keeps their hopes of progressing alive. Young gun Carla Leite showed her class with 24 points, while the veteran Kelsey Bone weighed in with 18 points and 9 boards. A tremendous late surge from Valencia Basket Club witnessed them take down Umana Reyer Venezia 83-72 as they become outright leaders of Group D. A fantastic 17 points and 8 assists from Leticia Romero was the highlight.
Results
Thursday, November 21 Uni Gyor 76-81 ZVVZ USK Praha Beretta Famila Schio 71-57 DVTK HUNTHERM
Wednesday, November 20 Zabiny Brno 45-64 CBK Mersin Basket Landes 59-58 Perfumerias Avenida Tango Bourges Basket 82-62 Olympiacos Villeneuve d'Ascq LM 100-83 KGHM BC Polkowice Casademont Zaragoza 69-80 Fenerbahce Opet Valencia Basket Club 83-72 Umana Reyer Venezia
FIBA