As one of the wealthiest teams in the EuroLeague, “Mersin” has consistently been a force to reckon with. The Mediterranean powerhouse kicked off the season with an impressive 10-game winning streak. However, the team faced a surprising setback in early January when they decided to part ways with thier head coach, Victor lapeña, following a series of disappointing losses in the Turkish championship.
On the fourth Wednesday of January, Mersin’s dominant run in the EuroLeague’s main tournament was halted.Kitty Lacks emerged as a key player, scoring 10 points in the opening minutes. lacks showcased her versatility by attacking the basket and executing a flawless 2+1 play, followed by a successful three-pointer, pushing the score to 19:10!
In the second quarter, Lacks added another long-range shot to her tally. However, “Famila Schio” managed to extend their lead to a double-digit margin by halftime, with the scoreboard reading 48:37. After the break, Mersin made a strong comeback, narrowing the gap to just three points, thanks to the sharpshooting of Marina Fatou and Bridget Carlton, making it 50:47.
Despite Mersin’s efforts, Schio’s players remained composed and launched another offensive surge.Lacks contributed with two more points, helping her team regain a double-digit lead at 62:51. The Latvian forward continued to dominate in the fourth quarter, sinking two more long-range shots to further solidify Schio’s advantage.
Kitty Lacks delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 25 points in just 27:14 minutes with remarkable accuracy (2p 6/7, 3p 4/6, 1p 1/2). she also recorded three rebounds, two turnovers, one steal, four personal fouls, a +/- of 6, and an efficiency rating of 23.
In another thrilling match, “Valencia Basket” secured a decisive victory over “Zaragoza” with a final score of 79:64 (21:23, 16:21, 25:11, 17:9).Leticia Romero and Kristina vitolas were instrumental in the win, combining for 7 of 10 successful long-range shots in the first three quarters, with Vitolas hitting four consecutive shots.
Kristine Vitola contributed 14 points in 23:19 minutes (2p 1/5, 3p 4/5). The center also recorded three steals, one fumble, three personal fouls, a +/- of 6, and an efficiency rating of 12.
Highlights from the Eleventh Round of EuroLeague Women, January 22
| Time | The game | The result |
|---|---|---|
| 18.00 | Fenerbahce – Reyer Venice | 86:66 |
| 20.30 | Basket Landes – Žabiny Brno | 76:60 |
| 21.00 | Famila Schio – Mersin | 83:71 |
| 21.00 | Zaragoza – Valencia Basket | 64:79 |
| 21.30 | Avenida – bourges Basket | 51:62 |
Turkish giants “Fenerbahce” and “Mersin” secured their spots in the playoffs on January 8. “Famila Schio” joined them in the “Top 8″ on January 14. Simultaneously occurring, the Polish club “Polkowice” was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to financial difficulties.
EuroLeague Women Standings as of January 22, 2025
| # | E group | F group |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mersin 10-1 | Fenerbahce 9-0 |
| 2 | Family Schio 8-3 | Valencia Basket 7-2 |
| 3 | Bourges Basket 7-4 | Zaragoza 5-4 |
| 4 | Basketball Landes 6-5 | USK Prague 4-5 |
| 5 | Avenida 4-7 | Reyer Venezia 3-7 |
| 6 | Žabiny Brno 3-8 |
