DVTK stun London to open Qualifiers; Polkowice, Sepsi-SIC take tight wins

MUNICH (Germany) - DVTK Hun-Therm stole the show in the first leg of the EuroLeague Women Qualifiers with a fabulous win at the highly-fancied London Lions, while KGHM BC Polkowice and ACS Sepsi-SIC were also victorious.

Despite London boasting an array of stellar names including the likes of Temi Fagbenle and Megan Gustafson, it was the team-orientated and efficient basketball of DVTK which was the difference-maker in a 63-48 triumph and in comparison to an erratic display by the ambitious British club.

The Hungarian visitors will feel they have one foot in the Regular Season and much of their best work was down to a clinical 21 points from London turnovers. Four DVTK players recorded double-digit scoring returns, led by 16 from Australian forward Darcee Garbin, while Kaila Charles had 10 points and 13 boards.

Gustafson top scored in defeat with 13 points, but London's night was made even worse with a worrying injury for Fagbenle who was carried off the court.

Eye-catching performances from summer additions Dragana Stankovic and Nika Baric were at the heart of KGHM BC Polkowice shrugging off a slow start in Istanbul to take a precious 58-57 victory at Besiktas JK. 

The former went to work with a critical double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds as the Serbian national team forward also turned up the defensive heat by blocking 3 shots and grabbing 3 steals. Meanwhile Baric was a composed presence in the backcourt with 14 points and 6 assists.

Besiktas were fuelled by 21 points from Jovana Nogic who continued her impressive early season form by also handing out 5 assists. She will be vital for the Turkish team who must now win in Poland to advance to the Regular Season.

ACS Sepsi-SIC had to work incredibly hard on their home floor to see off a dogged TTT Riga 59-54 in another defensively dominated encounter. With both teams struggling to find any kind of rhythm and especially from long-range, it this tie also hangs tantalizingly in the balance heading into the second leg next week.

The Romanian hosts had looked on course to disappoint the locals when trailing heading into the last period but a 15-7 final quarter gave them the delicate advantage to take to the Latvian capital. Borislava Hristova netted 20 points for Sepsi, while Bethy Mununga grabbed 15 boards. Dekeiya Cohen led the resistance for the visitors with a 15-point and 12-rebound double-double. 

The second legs for all three ties take place next Wednesday when the Regular Season field will be completed.

FIBA