Valencia visited Bourges in the first EuroLeague game under the reign of new head coach Israel Sanchis. As well as firing former coach Lange, Valencia have brought in much needed help in the form of US WNBA star Chamique Holdsclaw.

But the new-look Spanish team couldn’t come up with a first road victory, and playing without Amaya Valdemoro, suffered a 66-62 defeat.

		Elodie Godin

Unfortunately for Valencia, it was Spanish international Laia Palau who inflicted the killer blow in what was a close game. Palau, who joined Bourges this summer from Valenica’s biggest domestic rivals Barcelona, hit a jump shot in the 38th minute which killed off the visiting team’s hopes.

All 5 Bourges starters reached double figures in scoring and center Elodie Godin had a double-double, 10 points and 13 rebounds.

Holdsclaw finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds for Valencia, but made just 7/21 field goal attempts.