EUROCUP WOMEN

Kayseri Kaskispor will take a healthy 12-point advantage to Botas Sports Club next week for the second leg of the EuroCup Women Semi-Final tie after getting a mean one-two punch from Latoya Sanders and Nicole Sanford on Thursday.

Botas, despite getting 19 points and 22 rebounds from Courtney Paris, slumped to a 77-75 defeat in the Turkish showdown at Kayseri.

The 25-year-old power forward Latoya Sanders was dominant on both ends of the floor with 20 points, nine rebounds and seven blocks while 35-year-old center Sanford finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Botas had a dream start, leading 12-2 midway through the first quarter.

Paris had six points and Quianna Chaney four in that excellent beginning for the visitors.

Kayseri cut the deficit to 16-12 and then lowered the boom.

Donneka Hodges drilled a jumper and Bahar Ozturk buried a three-ball to ignite a 12-1 run that put the hosts in front to stay.

The lead grew to 54-38 midway through the second quarter after five straight points from Sanders and a lay-up from Sanford.

Botas dug in, however, and ended up outscoring the home side 19-17 in the third quarter with two Paris free-throws reducing the arrears to 60-50 with 10 minutes to go.

The visitors drew to within nine early in the fourth quarter but Kayseri edged the frame 17-15 for the 12-point win.