Taylor and Snell through to EuroLeague Quarters

Penny Taylor and Belinda Snell have lifted their teams into the EuroLeague Quarter Finals while Hollie Grima faces a third and decisive game and Erin Phillips' Lotos Gdynia were knocked out in the Eighth Finals.

Penny Taylor and Belinda Snell have lifted their teams into the EuroLeague Quarter Finals while Hollie Grima faces a third and decisive game and Erin Phillips’ Lotos Gdynia were knocked out in the Eighth Finals.

Fenerbahce survived a late scare to become the last team to grab their EuroLeague Women Quarter-Final ticket early as they fought off Cras Basket Taranto to record a 60-55 road win in Italy.

A strong start to the game was the key for the Turkish giants as they gave the home team a mountain to climb after registering a 17-4 run in the first half to move from 12-11 in front to 29-15.

It looked like the home team weren't going to make a run at all in the game until the last four minutes when they suddenly sparked into life and gave their opponent something of a scare.

Trailing 55-45, three-pointers by Jami Montagnino and Michelle Greco put them to within four points with 46 seconds remaining in the game.

However a big defensive play by Penny Taylor helped seal the win for Fenerbahce as she produced a huge block in the closing moments.

The Australian followed up her classy performance in the first game with another pivotal contribution of a game high 17 points, on 8-of-9 shooting from the field, and 5 rebounds.

Snell’s Ros Casares became the first team to book their place in the last eight of Euroleague Women as they swept ZVVZ USK Prague after securing an 85-74 success in the Czech capital.

The Jayco Opal scored 11 points and posted eight rebounds, three assists and a steal in the encounter.

It was far from a vintage display by the her Valencia based club but their usual work-rate and experience left USK Prague always playing catch-up. The visitors dominated from tip to buzzer after storming into an early 18-4 lead.

While Prague tried to keep pace, they found themselves 24-12 behind after the first ten minutes of action. In a more evenly contested second period, Prague were more effective but still found themselves 41-28 behind at the break.

That didn't deter the home team and to their credit, they worked hard to claw their way back and managed to get within 8 points with just under four minutes to go after a score by Sandra Le Drean.

However Ros Casares regained control down the stretch to ease their way into the quarter-finals.

Rivas Ecopolis came back from a terrible start to edge out Hollie Grima’s Frisco Sika Brno in a nail-biting thriller to set up a mouth watering third and decisive series game in Madrid next week with a place in the last eight at stake.

Against an already desperate looking opponent whose hopes suddenly appeared top be fading even at this early stage, Frisco Brno closed the quarter with a 13-2 run to take a comfortable 21-10 lead.

What happened shortly afterwards turned the game on its head and left the Czech fans shocked and the Madrid bench excited as the visitors soon began to make up the deficit.

By the time Jelena Dubljevic finished her three-point play with 7:20 to go in the second, Rivas had clawed their way back to make it a one-shot game at 21-18. Vastly improved on defence and finishing on the fast break, their burst of scoring left Brno helpless to stop a stunning 14-0 run which showed Rivas 24-21 ahead on the scoreboard.

Thankfully for Brno, the classy Bonner ended the scoring drought of Brno and Grima followed with a lay-up to show some vital signs for the home side and by the time Skerovic hit a tough three-pointer it was 29-30 at the break with the game finely poised.

With exactly sixty seconds remaining, Anna Cruz stepped up big time for her team and willed in a lay-up after a quick spin move to give Madrid a priceless five point cushion at 59-64.

Grima had four points, five rebounds and a steal in 16 minutes on court.

A devastating 31 point haul from US international Diana Taurasi put an end to the hopes of Erin Phillips’ Lotos Gdynia causing an upset as three-time defending champion Spartak Moscow Region breezed into the last eight of EuroLeague Women.

Having been battered in game one, Gdynia had been hoping for a more spirited display on their own floor and initially they delivered by racing into a shock 21-13 lead early in the second period.

However that sparked coach Pokey Chatman and her players into life and they responded in fine style. Trailing 29-23 with just over five minutes to go until the break, they posted a 13-2 run to take control.

They never looked back and from that point onwards, Gdynia were left chasing shadows as the visitors began to pick apart their hosts all over the floor as they dominated the remainder of the game.

In addition to Taurasi, Janel Mc Carville was also in irresistible form for the champions.

The center recorded a mammoth 9 steals - the best anywhere in EuroLeague Women this season to go with an impressive 13 points and 2 blocked shots.

Ivana Matovic ended her involvement in the competition for the home team with a typically solid 18 points and 6 rebounds.

Phillips had a terrific all-round game, scoring seven points to go with six assists, six rebounds and two steals but it was not enough to get Gdynia over the line.

Story and photos courtesy of fibaeurope.com

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