Yilmaz and Sanders lead Turkey to key win over Belarus

RIO DE JANEIRO (Rio 2016 Olympic Games) - Turkey moved a step closer to the Quarter-Finals of the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament after holding off Belarus, 74-71, on Thursday.

With the victory - their second in a row after losing their opening two games - the Turks improved to 2-2, while Belarus dropped to 1-3. 

The game was closely contested throughout with neither team leading by more than 8 points.

Belarus used an 8-0 run to pull ahead for a 15-9 advantage late in the first quarter, by the end of which they led 19-13. Turkey came back and tied the score at 25 midway through the second period on a three-pointer by Sebnem Nezahat Kimyacioglu.

It was anyone's game as the teams headed into the locker rooms with the score knotted at 33. 

Belarus were in the ascendancy in the early part of the third quarter, going up 44-37 on Tatsiana Likhtarovich's lay-up. Nevriye Yilmaz and Lara Sanders stepped up for Turkey and the latter tied the game at 48 with 2:42 left in the period. Kimyacioglu later connected from beyond the arc and Olcay Cakir scored to put Turkey up 57-52 before Belarus playmaker Lindsay Harding beat the buzzer at the end of the period to get her team within 57-54.

Turkey went to Yilmaz in the final quarter and she delivered, hitting a long jumper for a 66-58 lead with 5:39 left to play. Belarus stalwart Yelena Leuchanka fouled out shortly thereafter but her team cut into Turkey's deficit thanks to timely baskets by Tatyana Troina and Harding, getting within 72-71 with 1:45 remaining. However, they missed their opportunities to edge in front in the final minute and the Turks sealed the win from the free-throw line.

Turning Point: After Harding's lay-up saw Belarus cut the deficit to 72-71 , Troina and Sanders missed shots. With 21 seconds to go, Anastasiya Verameyenka blocked Yilmaz with Harding picking up the ball and racing the other way, feeding a trailing Troina who could not convert on a lay-up attempt. Isil Alben grabbed the rebound, was fouled and knocked down both free-throws with 13.1 seconds for a 74-71 edge. Belarus could not score on the final possession.

Stats Don't Lie: Both teams shot well from two-point range, Turkey going 23-of-45 and Belarus 22-of-43 for an identical 51 percent mark.

Hero: Turkey's 36-year-old captain Yilmaz, 36, turned back the clock, pouring in a game-high 26 points. Lara Sanders, coming off a 36-point performance against Japan, added 22 to go along with 11 rebounds. 

The Bottom Line: Belarus lost by four points or less for the third time in the tournament. They face Group A leaders on Saturday but even a win on that occasion will in theory not be enough to see them advance as both they have lost to France, Japan and now Turkey, all teams with which they could potentially end up in a tie-break with. 

FIBA