Sizzling Sopron still on fire and Souza hails special atmosphere in Salamanca
MUNICH (EuroLeague Women) - It was a gripping and exciting end to Week 12 in EuroLeague Women and we find out how it went down on social media, while also catching up on some of those involved.
MUNICH (EuroLeague Women) - It was a gripping and exciting end to Week 12 in EuroLeague Women and we find out how it went down on social media, while also catching up on some of those involved.
You could barely get wider smiles than those on the faces of Sopron Basket coaches, players and staff as the Hungarian side posted their best season in years to confirm their place in the Quarter-Finals.
After many seasons of struggle in the wake of their Final Four appearance eight years ago, they are now 8-4 after beating Castors Braine 66-61 in a thriller - despite being without the free-scoring Jelena Milovanovic who is sidelined with a broken hand.
"We were playing for the EuroLeague Women Play-Offs and our opponents were fighting hard for a EuroCup Women Quarter-Finals spot," mused head coach, Roberto Iniguez.
"There were a lot of circumstances disturbing us, but we managed to overcome all of them in the end and we offer this win to Jeca [Jelena Milovanovic]," he added, making reference to his injured captain.
There was also an incredible amount of joy for fans of Perfumerias Avenida after it looked like they had blown it against Fenerbahce, only to prevail unexpectedly in a dramatic finale.
Laura Nicholls scored the winning basket with only a few seconds left, in the 65-64 success, but it was Brazilian Erika De Souza who provided the all-important anchor with 15 precious points. She paid tribute to the role of the fans, with Avenida back on home soil after four consecutive road games.
Thank you Würzburg for making it a magical night.
— Angel Robinson (@angelrobinson33) January 18, 2018
To the best fans in Europe aka “the 6th man”. #VamosAvenida 💙 https://t.co/2EE0QWVwmF
Her partner in the paint. Angelica Robinson was also impressed and suitably grateful to the locals!
One team that did pick up a welcome win on their travels were Galatasaray as they claimed an 86-77 triumph at CCC Polkowice.
The significance is that this puts the Turkish side in a position to strike for EuroCup Women success and was enjoyed by playmaker, Olivia Epoupa.
Dynamo Kursk were rampant against Bourges as the unbeaten champions ended a five-game winning streak for Bourges, with a 94-63 success.
.😂😂hats off @Piphdagreat10 ! Gets completely floored by team-mate @Nnemkadi30 and falls to the floor in an incredible slow motion but gets up to hit the 3⃣ from a lovely one-handed assist by @angel_35 - brilliant play and made me 😂😂 too! #EuroLeagueWomen pic.twitter.com/hsHKih2aQG
— Paul Nilsen (@basketmedia365) January 17, 2018
There was a superb display from Epiphanny Prince, who also showed great resilience to bounce back from being knocked off her feet to hit this basket - one of the more amusing and yet still impressive scores of the season.
Elsewhere in Russia, there was a surprise departure at UMMC Ekaterinburg, as Olaf Lange departed due to family reasons.
Спасибо, Олаф!
— БК УГМК (@BC_UMMC) January 17, 2018
В связи с семейными обстоятельствами немецкий специалист покидает Екатеринбург.https://t.co/6znzCnsFM0 pic.twitter.com/m4s2kD7hZ6
The announcement was made within hours of the juggernauts sweeping aside Nadezhda 96-53 to go 9-3.
ZVVZ USK Praha are on course for a possible Play-Offs place - a fact not lost on head coach, Natalia Hejkova after she watched her team outlast ESBVA-LM by 72-59.
"It was a very important game for us and now we have three wins in a row," said the veteran play-caller.
"Without this victory, nothing would have been possible for the Play-Offs. We are happy because the game wasn't easy and nothing is as easy as it seems.
"We had a great first half, we were good in defense and in offense - it was excellent!" she concluded.
FIBA