Turkey destroyed Finland 76-42 on Saturday to join Poland at the top of EuroBasket Women qualifying Group B.

The Turks, who are level with Poland at 5-1, took a 23-6 stranglehold on the game by the end of the first quarter with a solid defensive effort.

By half-time, the game was all but over with Turkey leading the visiting Finns 42-16.

Ceyhun Yıldızoğlu's team held Finland to 12 of 41 (29.3%) shooting inside the arc, compared to 41.4% (24 of 58) themselves.

Turkey also forced the Finns to turn the ball over 21 times.

"They played an intense and fast game," said Finland coach Domingo Diaz.

"It's impossible to play like the Turkey team. I think Turkey is the best team in our group and they have played the best defense in the group."

Yıldızoğlu agreed that his team's ability to pressure Finland when they had the ball had been decisive.

"Tonight our defense was very tough, our toughest to date," he said.

"I think everybody did their best for me. We have two more games in the group and we will do everything we can to win them."

Naile Ivegin had 10 points and eight rebounds for Turkey, while Tiina Sten finished with nine and four for Finland.