Torrens Leads Galatasaray Fightback

With Diana Taurasi on a bad day, last season's MVP Alba Torrens took over and sparked a Galatasaray comeback to escape victorious from Prague

Galatasaray scored the final 14 points of the game to come from behind and take a 78-70 road win over ZVVZ USK Prague, making it two wins out of two in Euroleague Women Group A.

Having begun the final stanza trailing 51-49, Galatasaray poured in 29 points in a strong finish.

Alba Torrens was the spark, scoring 14 of her 23 points in the final 10 minutes.

Torrens scored the first 10 of the period for the Turkish side, bringing Galatasaray level with a jump-shot before adding a free throw, then replying to Ilona Burgrova's jump-shot by nailing a three-pointer and adding a lay-up.

A lay-up followed on the fastbreak to put Galatasaray 59-53 up.

USK Prague were not ready to surrender, however, and Burgrova made a pair of quick baskets to help them edge back in front, 62-60 on Eva Viteckova's jump shot.

They led 70-64 after Burgova followed her lay-up with a free-throw, but Diana Taurasi's three sparked another Galatasaray run, and this one proved decisive.

Prague never scored again as Galatasaray romped home.

Torrens added six assists to her 23 points, while Tina Charles scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

Ivanka Matic had 11 points and Taurasi 10 for Galatasaray.

DeLisha Milton-Jones led Prague with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Burgrova finished with 15 points and 12 boards.

Katerina Elhotova also scored in double figures with 10 points.

Quotes ZVVZ USK Prague vs. Galatasaray Medical Park

Galatasaray Head Coach Ceyhun Yildizoglu:
"We played well only the last quarter. Especially Diana Taurasi made a really good job with her three pointer at the end. We hope that we will play better next time."

ZVVZ USK Prague Head Coach Lubor Blažek:
"We were good on defense, we knew what we want to play and how we can defend the offensive game of Galatasaray. However, we had low percentage in free throws, we missed seven, and we started to be nervous in the end. We realized that we are losing the game that we controlled until some point. And when they led by four pointsat  the end of the game, it was hard to turn the score to our side again. Today´s game had almost the same scenario as the one between Galatasaray MP and Vici Aistes. I think we were able to win today, but we made some mistakes, e.g. when playing forward. However, we will do our best to win the next match in Kaunas."

Galatasaray player Saziye Ivegin:
"We had a bad start, ZVVZ USK did quick transitions, etc. But, as the coach said, we came back into the game in the 4th period and we were able to turn the game to our side."

ZVVZ USK Prague player Ilona Burgrová:
"The last quarter decided the match, we started to vie with them for the lead, they scored a couple of easy baskets, we were not disciplined on offense and that´s why we lost the game. We were dominant most of the game, but we made some turnovers in the middle of the court and then it's hard to defend. Moreover Taurasi was on the scene, she knew what she wanted to play and so her teammates were calmer. We should have stayed focused and kept playing systematically."