Fantastic Fifth Straight Win For Gala

Point guard Isil Alben fueled Galatasaray's win with 17 points

Galatsaray protected their unbeaten status in EuroLeague Women Group C after grabbing their fifth consecutive win of the campaign with a convincing 79-69 success at Perfumerias Avenida.

The Turkish giants made the most of the hosts' failing three-point game to ease to victory as Avenida slumped to a third loss in four games.

The Spanish side jacked up 19 triple attempts in the game, but only managed to get two to drop, as they struggled to make inroads into an imposing Galatasaray defensive presence in the paint.

They had actually competed very well during a first half which ebbed and flowed both ways, the game tied by Marta Xargay at 21-21, but the visitors sneaking ahead 33-29 by the time the break arrived.

It was however, a slightly different story when the contest resumed.

As the game continued to unfold, Galatasaray began to wear their opponent down more and more with their superior depth, and once they made a decisive 8-2 run during the fourth quarter to go 78-64 ahead, it was the end of the road for Avenida.

Nicole Powell had 13 points and 13 rebounds for the losing team but was generally well shackled, whilst Isil Alben had 17 points, five rebounds and four assists for Galatasaray, for whom Ann Wauters, Sancho Lyttle and Lindsay Whalen also impressed.

Quotes Perfumerias Avenida Salamanca vs. Galatasaray

Galatasaray player Ann Wauters:
"We knew that it was going to be very hard to play here. They have a lot of fans that make the game more difficult. It was a fight almost until the end and we are happy because this is a very big win. I´m sure Salamanca is getting better and it won´t be easy to win here in the future. For Galatasaray, EuroLeague Women is a long way, we have to go day by day, but we have goals, of course, but winning this competition is not easy at all."

Galatasaray head coach Ekrem Memnun:
"I´m very proud of my players, we have some players out and a small rotation but we play very hard, it was, as Ann said, a fight. We expected this kind of game, we had a lot of respect for Avenida. We are not favourites in this EuroLeague Women. We have goals, of course, but we have to go day by day, fight every moment, for every ball. EuroLeague Women has a very high-level basketball, so we want to win it, but we are not favourites."

Avenida player Marta Xargay:
"I think we had to believe in ourselves, that was the key of the game. I think we were very close to Galatasaray till the end. We had some big mistakes defensively but I think, anyway, the team is getting better; we have to believe in this team."

Avenida head coach Alberto Miranda:
"I think the team did a good job. In the first half we had a very high level and concentration, but in the second half we started to make big mistakes that allowed easy baskets, easy lay-ups, and it was the worst thing that could happen to us. At the end we had to take some risks and it was key for the final result. Obviously we are upset for the last games, because we are a winner team; working like this we only can get better."

Quotes Perfumerias Avenida Salamanca vs. Galatasaray

Galatasaray player Ann Wauters:
"We knew that it was going to be very hard to play here. They have a lot of fans that make the game more difficult. It was a fight almost until the end and we are happy because this is a very big win. I´m sure Salamanca is getting better and it won´t be easy to win here in the future. For Galatasaray, EuroLeague Women is a long way, we have to go day by day, but we have goals, of course, but winning this competition is not easy at all."

Galatasaray head coach Ekrem Memnun:
"I´m very proud of my players, we have some players out and a small rotation but we play very hard, it was, as Ann said, a fight. We expected this kind of game, we had a lot of respect for Avenida. We are not favourites in this EuroLeague Women. We have goals, of course, but we have to go day by day, fight every moment, for every ball. EuroLeague Women has a very high-level basketball, so we want to win it, but we are not favourites."

Avenida player Marta Xargay:
"I think we had to believe in ourselves, that was the key of the game. I think we were very close to Galatasaray till the end. We had some big mistakes defensively but I think, anyway, the team is getting better; we have to believe in this team."

Avenida head coach Alberto Miranda:
"I think the team did a good job. In the first half we had a very high level and concentration, but in the second half we started to make big mistakes that allowed easy baskets, easy lay-ups, and it was the worst thing that could happen to us. At the end we had to take some risks and it was key for the final result. Obviously we are upset for the last games, because we are a winner team; working like this we only can get better."