04.02.2011

Fenerbahce Ease Into Last Eight

Fenerbahce swept their way into the last eight of the EuroLeague Women with a 73-51 road triumph over Turkish rivals Galatasaray.

Fener shot a lights-out eight-of-11 (72.7%) from three-point range and out-rebounded their hosts 40-23 in a comprehensive victory.

The winners made their intentions clear from the off, starting the game with a 14-2 run and never allowing their lead to dip into single figures again.

The margin reached 20, 40-20, on Ivana Matovic's jump-shot before half-time and made it to as much as 28, 61-33, on Hana Horakova's three-pointer late in the third quarter.

Fener moved into a lower gear in the fourth quarter, allowing Gala to close the gap at least a little, but the result was never in doubt.

Esmeral Tuncluer led the way with 16 points and seven rebounds, nine of her points coming on perfect three-of-three shooting from long-range.

Matovic also had 16 points, while Anete Jekabsone added 14.

Sylvia Fowles was the only Gala player to reach double figures with 14 points, as they managed only 2-of-18 (11.1%) shooting from three-point range.

04.02.2011

Quotes Galatasaray MP - Fenerbahce

Ceyhun Yıldızoğlu, Galatasaray Medical Park coach:
"We worked on minimizing our mistakes from the first game. But we faced a really ambitious team which played to sweep the series. They showed their winning mentality at the beginning of the game. We didn't feed Sylvia Fowles in the paint. Fenerbahçe is a really experienced team. They knew our every step in the game. We have noticed that we can't beat them five-on-five, after the first quarter. So we tried to make some easy baskets in transition game. But they matched our moves. They deserved to win tonight. We could do no more in the EuroLeague Women. From now on we are going to concentrate on [winning] the Turkish Basketball League title."

Işıl Alben, Galatasaray Medical Park guard:
"We are so sorry to lose this game. We faced a really tough team tonight. If we can play better basketball we can keep walking."

Laszlo Ratgeber, Fenerbahçe coach:
"We really played a perfect game. In the first game we double-teamed Fowles and forced her to make too many turnovers. And tonight we made a little trick. We made that again. But actually it was not a real double-team tactic. We wanted that other players can't score. I want to congratulate my players. Especially our three Turkish players deserve many compliments. Esmeral, Birsel and Nevriye played very well. I'm proud of them. I think this Fenerbahçe team need to be proud for playing like this despite missing Taurasi and Taylor. If you have Diana Taurasi, Penny Taylor and Nevriye Yılmaz in your team you need to play on 100 per cent offense. And now, day by day, we change our philosophy. We are in the last eight [of EuroLeague Women]. But I don't have wishes [about our next opponent]. If we want to qualify to the Final Four we have to be tough in defence. We have to take care. Thank you girls, you didn't lose your energy and faith."

Esmeral Tunçluer, Fenerbahçe guard:
"We started the game well. We moved the ball around as a team. We didn't let them score easy baskets. And we won. And from now on we have to focus on our next opponent."