Samuelson collects EuroCup Women Finals MVP honor

LONDON (Great Britain) - Karlie Samuelson had a night for the ages as the guard not only guided London Lions to the EuroCup Women title but took home the Finals MVP award.

The 28-year-old starred in both legs of the Finals and helped London become the first British club to win a European club title.

Samuelson showed her experience of three seasons in EuroLeague Women as she scored 19 points to go with 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal for an efficiency of 21 in London's 81-70 victory in the second leg.

In the first leg in Istanbul, the Great Britain international tallied 16 points and 4 rebounds. Over the two legs, she averaged 17.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and an efficiency of 17.0.

"I am so proud of us. We're such a close group," Samuelson said afterwards.

Samuelson praised Besiktas but said London stepped up when it mattered most, reversing the seven-point deficit from the first leg and getting the aggregate lead for good on Holly Winterburn's three-pointer with 15 seconds left.

"The game at Besiktas was really tough. They are a great team. We came in down seven and we battled. We came out strong like we needed to.  When it was tight and Holly shot that three, I felt in my soul that it was in, it was just the moment," Samuelson said.

"Everybody stepped up and I am just so proud of us."

FIBA