Kovacik and Kosice continue Galatasaray curse

KOSICE (EuroLeague Women) - Good Angels Kosice are alive and kicking again in EuroLeague Women after extending a 24 year losing streak of Galatasaray odeabank.

They may be EuroLeague Women champions, but the Turkish juggernaut suffered a 59-50 loss in Kosice as they once again failed to beat a team from Slovak Republic, with their last success coming way back in 1991.

The outcome was a serious blow to the hopes of Galatasaray making the play-offs, but rejuvenated the prospects of Good Angels whose only previous victory came in Istanbul.

"I am happy and proud of my whole team,” said Kosice head coach Maros Kovacik after completing a memorable double.

"Ta 'Shauna [Rodgers] and Crystal [Langhorne] gave us important points, but victory is the result of effort of the whole team.

"We believed that we could be successful and with a disciplined performance we did it."

Rodgers, was drafted in to replace Opals’ guard Erin Phillps and made an immediate impact with a perfect four of four from downtown on her debut in the competition.

"It was a really good match,” declared Rodgers.

"We respected the instructions of our coaches and we fought from the first to the last second.

"Me and my team-mates are still getting used to each other, but I think it was a new beginning for whole team."

Russian duo UMMC Ekaterinburg and Dynamo Kursk are still fighting it out for pole position in Group A after they continued their impressive seasons.

The former had to work hard to dig out a 77-69 win against Basket Lattes Montpellier Agglomeration, while Kursk enjoyed a great shooting night to soar to a 92-68 triumph at home to Wisla Can-Pack behind a brilliant 20 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists from Nnemkadi Ogwumike.

Her USA national team colleague Lindsay Whalen produced the joint best shooting night of the entire EuroLeague Women season after a staggering 82% display en-route to a 22 point haul during a 96-76 win for Agu Spor Kulubu against Energa Torun.

Another World champions in Tina Charles was rested by Fenerbahce against BK Imos Brno, but Astou Ndour filed the gap with an outstanding 30 points in a 79-54 success.

One of the most impressive results of the week came in Orenburg, where Russia national team center, Natalia Vieru corralled 13 points and 16 rebounds to bring down CB Avenida 66-50, with the visitors having only lost once previously.

Similarly, Beretta Famila Schio posted arguably their best display of the entire season as 22 points from Laura Macchi and 23 points and nine boards from Isabelle Yacoubou catapulted them to a terrific 79-54 win against Tango Bourges.

FIBA