TEO Beat Gala In OT For First Triumph

TEO Vilnius needed eight games but finally recorded a win in the EuroLeague Women on Thursday by beating Galatasaray 86-80 in overtime.

In the process, the Lithuanian team damaged Gala's prospects of climbing in the Group A standings ahead of the play-offs.

The Turkish team is now fourth at 4-4 - a game behind Cras Basket Taranto (5-3) with two rounds remaining.

Renee Montgomery poured in 25 points and Quanitra Hollingsworth 19 for TEO, who also got a huge double-double from Milka Bjelica.

The Serbian center, averaging 10.7 points and 7.8 rebounds, finished with 18 points and 15 rebounds.

In a very tight game from start to finish, two Montgomery free-throws with 2:29 to go gave TEO a 71-68 lead.

Neither team was able to score on its next two possessions and with 1:02 left, Galatasaray called a timeout.

When play resumed, Nilay Yigit spotted Yelena Leuchanka open outside and passed to the Belarus international.

Leuchanka, not known as a three-point shooter, connected from long range to knot the game.

Bjelica turned the ball over on a three-second violation but Yigit missed a lay-up with 17 seconds to go and Hollingsworth missed a potential go-ahead lay-up.

TEO had a chance to hit the winner but Chioma Nnamaka missed from three-point range and the game went to overtime.

Sophia Young put Galatasaray in front with a jump shot but Milda Sauliute went to the other end and answered with a three-pointer for TEO.

Baskets from Montgomery and Hollingsworth extended the advantage to 78-73 and TEO stayed on top the rest of the way.

Galatasaray did reduce the deficit to two on two more occasions, the last at 80-78 after a three-ball from Tugba Palazoglu.

Montgomery split two free-throws, though, and Nnamaka made a lay-up for an 83-78 advantage.

Two Leuchanka free-throws trimmed the arrears to 83-80 for Galatasaray but the Turkish team fouled Montgomery and the American made one of two at the line and ended up adding two more free-throws for the six-point triumph.

TEO went to the line often, making 20 of 26 (76.9%) while Galatasaray took far less trips and sank six of seven.

Both teams made eight three-pointers while inside the arc, Galatasaray were 25 of 48 (52%) compared to TEO's 21 of 40 (52.5%).

Young finished with 25 points in defeat for Galatasaray, who must now play first-place UMMC Ekaterinburg at home on January 13 before travelling to Valencia for their last Group A game against Ros Casares on January 20.

TEO won't be advancing to the play-offs but at least they have finally tasted victory.

Quotes TEO Vilnius vs. Galatasaray

Mantas Šernius, Head coach TEO Vilnius:
"Before the game I told the players to play with their hearts. And this is what they did. Of course, we made mistakes in this game, but overall there was fire in their eyes. I think that the players are finally beginning to understand what I want from them and thing are getting better."

Zafer Kalaycioglu, Head coach Galatasaray:
"TEO have a very young team this season so it's natural that they don't show good results. But they are improving and congratulations to them for this win. As for us it is really hard to win the game when you make so many turnovers, especially in the last quarter."