Galatasaray Left Stunned by Super Rivas

Turning Point: When Elisa Aguilar made a big shot from the perimeter with just over three minutes remaining then next time down, Asjha Jones finished an ‘and-1' play to give their team a double digit cushion.

Game Heroes: Aguilar rolled back the years with 16 points including four triples while Jones finished with a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds although the entire Rivas team all played their part.

Stats Don't Lie: Rivas did a tremendous job on the glass and won the battle of the boards 45-35.

Rivas Ecopolis produced a terrific performance to shock Final Eight hosts Galatasaray Medical Park 75-68 and rack up a magnificent and historic first EuroLeague Women Finals success.

Both teams started the contest confidently and looked well matched. Asjha Jones handed Rivas an early 6-3 lead but her adversary in the paint Tina Charles tied the game up at 10-10 shortly afterwards.

It was Galatasaray who finished the opening quarter with a flourish, scoring seven of the last nine points to move 17-12 ahead, helped by the first and only three-pointer of the period from Lithuanian Egle Sulciute.

Rivas still trailed by five points at 26-21 but then came alive with a 6-0 burst to take the lead, visibly gaining in confidence in the process.

It looked like they might hold on to their advantage at the midway point of the game but a three-pointer by Saziye Ivegin helped the tournament hosts edge ahead 36-33 heading into the second half.

It was developing into a titanic tussle all over the court and the third quarter was to prove a mirror image of the second quarter as each team tried to establish tangible daylight without any great success.

Laura Nicholls was continuing to work well under the basket in addition to Jones as they shared responsibility in trying to nullify the significant danger posed by the powerful Charles.

With veteran Elisa Aguilar also impressing, Rivas worked their way to a 49-44 lead but stopping Diana Taurasi was proving a more difficult proposition.

She kept the scoreboard ticking over for Galatasaray who finished the third quarter with eight successive points - only for Essence Carson to drain a big triple from the corner and level the scores at 52-52.

Rivas continued playing smart basketball and had Galatasaray on the ropes when they moved 68-60 ahead with less than four minutes remaining after Aguilar sunk a three-ball and Jones went to work inside.

Any possibility of a Galatasaray fight back was then brutally extinguished by Essence Carson who delivered the knockout blow in the closing stages with a big three to seal a memorable victory.

Quotes Rivas Ecopolis vs. Galatasaray

Rivas Ecopolis head coach Miguel Martinez Mendez
"It was a great game for us. We played good all-around basketball with very good defense and won an important match against the home team."

Rivas center Asjha Jones
"I think it was a great game to watch. Both teams played really hard. We controlled the tempo and started with a win."

Galatasaray Medical Park head coach Ceyhun Yıldızoğlu
"First of all i want to congratulate Rivas. They played really good today. They started strong and played smarter than us. We couldn't play all-around basketball tonight, especially transition offence was bad for us. Defensively we tried a lot of things but couldn't get what we want. I think they deserved this win."

Galatasaray center Tina Charles
"They played hard on every possession and were relentless on the boards. They definitely went after it, played collectively as a team. They seemed very disciplined and deserved to win."

Quotes Rivas Ecopolis vs. Galatasaray

Rivas Ecopolis head coach Miguel Martinez Mendez
"It was a great game for us. We played good all-around basketball with very good defense and won an important match against the home team."

Rivas center Asjha Jones
"I think it was a great game to watch. Both teams played really hard. We controlled the tempo and started with a win."

Galatasaray Medical Park head coach Ceyhun Yıldızoğlu
"First of all i want to congratulate Rivas. They played really good today. They started strong and played smarter than us. We couldn't play all-around basketball tonight, especially transition offence was bad for us. Defensively we tried a lot of things but couldn't get what we want. I think they deserved this win."

Galatasaray center Tina Charles
"They played hard on every possession and were relentless on the boards. They definitely went after it, played collectively as a team. They seemed very disciplined and deserved to win."