Curtain falls on Play-Off Round 1 as Besiktas, Bourges and Reyer all sail through

MUNICH (Germany) - The last seven remaining tickets for the Round of 16 have been snapped up as a number of clubs all stormed their way into the next phase of the competition. 

There were some impressively strong displays from a number of teams who could all be in the final shake-up for silverware as the Play-Off Round 1 came to a close.

Key Storylines

- Big-hitters Besiktas, Bourges and Reyer among those who get it done on Thursday night;

- Go-time for Galatasaray as Istanbul giants get a Myisha Hines-Allen mega show;

-  Drama as Roche Vendee take five-point win against Flammes to advance;

-  Spanish teams celebrate as Girona, Cadi La Seu and Lointek Gernika all punch tickets.

Thursday, December 21
Besiktas had to make up a 10-point deficit from the first leg last week but accumulated a classy 78-58 success against Zabiny Brno as Dana Evans netted 26 points and China national team star Yueri Li grabbed 15 points and 13 boards.

Umana Reyer Venice had little difficulty strolling past BCF Elfic Fribourg 72-51, with Lorela Cubaj doing some seriously good work to serve up 13 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists. Jessica Shepard also continued her great work this season with 18 points and 14 boards.

French favorites Tango Bourges Basket blasted their way past Antalya BSB Toroslar BC 90-69 as Kayla Alexander stood out with 17 points and 9 rebounds.

Meanwhile, London Lions overwhelmed Bursa Uludag and Melikgazi Kayseri took on the role as potential dark horses in the tournament by winning 76-63 at Movistar Estudiantes, inspired by 24 points from Claudia Cuic.

Wednesday, December 20
Galatasaray Cagdas Factoring made home advantage count as they shrugged off being taken to overtime in the first leg by MB Zaglebie Sosnowiec. They eased into the next stage of the tournament with an imposing 91-65 triumph.

The main architect of the success was Myisha Hines-Allen with a huge 16 points and 17 boards. Nalyssa Smith and Hind Ben Abdelkader also added a big scoring touch with 25 and 21 points respectively.

Spar Girona also made home advantage pay as they rolled past TARR KSC Szekszard 63-51 to advance as they shut down their opponents in the last quarter. They clamped the Szekszard offense and restricted the output to just 5 points to seal the deal, helped by 6 steals for Ainhoa Lopez.

In fact, it was a good night for teams from Spain as Cadi La Seu and Lointek Gernika Bizkaia also both went through. The former took a convincing aggregate win against Castors Braine after a big first leg display, while Gernika overturned a deficit against Kangoeroes Mechelen and won by six on aggregate after a 69-58 home victory. It was paced by a sensational 11 of 12 shooting from Marie-Michelle Milapie who claimed 23 points. 

Meanwhile, one of the most exciting clashes was in France where Roche Vendee faced Flammes Carolo Basket in the wake of last week's rare tied game. Roche Vendee eventually dug it out 78-73 off the back of a couple of clutch threes in the stretch from Vaciana Gomis and 19 points from Tiffany Clarke.

Highs

Efficiency: 37 - Mya Hollingshed (BDS Dinamo Sassari)
Points: 27 – Channon Fluker (Bursa Uludag Basketball)
Rebounds: 17 – Myisha Hines-Allen (Galatasaray Cagdas Factoring) 
Assists: 13 - Faye Endean (London Lions)
Steals: 6 - Ainhoa Lopez (Spar Girona)
Blocks: 3 – Marieme Badiane (Lattes-Montpellier), Samantha Roscoe (Caledonia Gladiators)

Wednesday, December 20

Galatasaray Cagdas Factoring 91-65 MB Zaglebie Sosnowiec (181-155 aggregate)
VBW Arka Gdynia 67-63 Panathinaikos AC (133-119 aggregate)
TTT Riga 70-65 Olympiacos SFP (142-118 aggregate)
Spar Girona 63-51 TARR KSC Szekszard (152-128 aggregate)
Roche Vendee BC 78-73 Flammes Carolo Basket (149-144 aggregate)
Union Feminine Angers 68-75 InvestInTheWest Enea Gorzow (135-149 aggregate)
Lointek Gernika Bizkaia 69-58 Kangoeroes Mechelen (139-133 aggregate)
Lattes-Montpellier 89-59 KP Brno (152-130 aggregate)
Cadi La Seu 87-83 Castors Braine (171-145 aggregate)

Thursday, December 21

Besiktas 78-58 Zabiny Brno (141-131 aggregate)
Umana Reyer Venezia 72-51 BCF Elfic Fribourg (155-114 aggregate)
Tango Bourges Basket 90-69 Antalya BSB Toroslar (198-120 aggregate)
London Lions 122-63 Bursa Uludag Basketbol (199-116 aggregate)
Movistar Estudiantes 63-76 Melikgazi Kayseri  (118-157 aggregate)
Caledonia Gladiators 50-61 NKA Universitas Pecs (101-136 aggregate)
Basket Namur Capitale 52-63 BDS Dinamo Sassari (125-142 aggregate)

FIBA