Galatasaray Just Miss Ros Casares Upset

Ros Casares held off Galatasaray in a tense finish to win their EuroLeague Women Group A clash 63-62 in Istanbul.

Jia Perkins missed the second of a pair of free throws with one second left as a late Gala rally came up short.

A close game went into the fourth quarter with Ros Casares up 51-50 after Anna Montanana ended the third with a pair of free throws to wrest the advantage away from the hosts.

Although Yasemin Horasan briefly had Gala back in front, Elisa Aguilar's jumper saw the lead change hands once again and Montanana hit a lay-up to stretch it to three.

DeLisha Milton split a pair of free throws and then nailed a three-pointer as the lead bulged to seven with 6:06 to go.

But Gala would not go away and after a quick timeout, Tugba Palazoglu got a three-point play with a foul.

Rebekka Hammon responded with a pair of free throws of her own, but another basket and foul saw Perkins make a three-point play that had the gap back to four, 61-57, with 4:24 to go.

Montanana and Horasan traded basket before Perkins hit a jump-shot that made it 63-61 2:02 from time.

However, Horasan missed a jump shot and Perkins twice came up empty as the game headed towards the final seconds.

Gala were given one more chance when Laia Palau missed a pair of free throws with six seconds left, Nilay Yigit grabbing the rebound and finding Perkins who drew a foul from Jana Vesela.

But after making the first to make it 63-62, Perkins saw the second come back off the rim as Ros Casares won, improving to 4-1 while Gala drop to 3-2.

Milton was the only Ros Casares player to reach double figures, scoring 17, as the visitors spread the points around.

Perkins led also scorers with 19, while Yelena Leuchanka collected 12 points and 13 rebounds and Sophia Young scored 12.

Quotes Galatasaray vs. Ros Casares

Zafer Kalaycıoğlu, Galatasaray head coach:
"This was a really hard game for us. We know that Ros Casares’ target is to win the championship for this year. Especially after taking their new player Rebecca Hammon they are really a good team now,they have no problem in any position. We are also good team, but in the last minute we had two very important turnovers and lost the game with one point. Also in the last second we missed the free throw, instead of overtime  the game was over at that point. We did our best for this game and we need one away game to go to the play-offs. We know this and I hope we shall win our next game."

Galatasaray guard Nilay Yiğit:
"First of all we are very sorry that we lost the game. We started the game very well even though our opponent Ros Casares is a really good team. In the first half especially in the first period we played really well but in the second period we had some turnovers. Generally we played ok but we were not lucky. We missed the free throws and lost the game with one point. I hope we win our upcoming  games."

Ros Casares head coach Isma Canto:
"At the beginning, in the first quarter Galatasaray controlled the rtyhm of the game really well, in the first quarter we lost a lot of confidence. In the second half there was a good defensive war. We made good switches between small and big sizes. Our defence was great in the last five minutes. And  in the last quarter we made good shot selections and won the game with one point."

Ros Casares point guard Rebecca Hammon:
"I thought it was a though game. Both teams battled hard, it wasn’t particularly a pretty game. I feel very fortunate that we can walk out of here with the win. I thought our defence was really great in the second half and really got us back into the game. On a night that we struggled offensively our defence was pretty good."