TUR – Clutch Nevlin keeps NT in the hunt

BYDOGOSZCZ (EuroBasket Women 2011) - Turkey aren’t setting the EuroBasket Women on fire but they are proving to be a team that never gives up.

With their backs against the wall going into Saturday’s game against Great Britain, battling Turkey prevailed 64-57 to keep their ambitious pre-tournament hope of a top-five finish alive.

The triumph has given them a chance to play in a do-or-die game against Belarus on Monday with a spot in the Quarter-Final Round at stake.

Why is a top-five finish a goal for Turkey?

While the winner of the EuroBasket Women earns a trip to the London Games, the sides that finish second, third, fourth and fifth will qualify for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women.

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On Saturday, Nevriye Yilmaz had 18 points for Turkey but the player that really made the difference down the stretch was 26-year-old power forward Nevin Nevlin.

Twice Britain pulled to within two points late in the fourth quarter but each time Nevlin answered for Turkey.

A three-point play by Johannah Leedham with 2:05 to go cut Turkey's advantage to 55-53, only for Nevlin to reply with a jumper.

Then with just over a minute remaining after a Nicole Stafford basket had again reduced the deficit to two for Britain, Nevlin set a pick at the top of the key, rolled into the lane and caught a pass from Birsel Vardarli before scoring to restore the four-point advantage.

After Leedham missed a shot from the arc, Turkey rebounded and Nevlin made two free-throws to push her team's lead to six.

They ended up with a seven-point triumph.

Now comes Belarus.

In Group E, Turkey have a 1-3 record and Belarus are 2-2 after their 68-50 drubbing by Lithuania on Saturday.

"We never give up as a team and we will be fighting until the very last call," Turkey's assistant coach Ömer Petorak said.

"We look forward to the game with Belarus and we will see what happens."

Turkey will host the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women.

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