Montpellier fall short again in EuroLeague Women match

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Montpellier that were requiring a win in their fourth EuroLeague Women match fell short in overtime to Fenerbahce.

This defeat leaves them fixed in last position of their group.

For Fenerbahce French international Emile Gomis in her first season playing outside France finished with 11 points and 8 assists.

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EuroLeague Women match report

Esmeral Tuncluer opened the scoring with the first shot of the game with a three-pointer to get the home fans from Fenerbahce cheering.

Pauline Krawczyk replied soon after from beyond the arc for Montpellier but Nicole Powell put the home side back in front with the third trey of the evening with barely 45 seconds played.

Khadijah Whittington from Montpellier put an end to the three-point sequence as her team attempted to slow down the pace of the game (5-6).

Fenerbahce quickly adjusted their play. They went on a 10-2 run which included another three-pointer by Powell.

Their sequence was ended by a shot from beyond the arc from Emilie Gomis.

With just four minutes on the game clock the hosts had increased their advantage (16-8).

Montpellier weathered the storm. With a score from Sylvie Gruszczynski and 4 points by Elodie Bertal they were quickly back on the tail of their opponents (14-16).

Then Tuncluer hit her second trey of the evening for Fenerbahce for both sides to exchange baskets until the end of the period with the hosts leading (26-20).

Bertal scored first at the start of the second period for Montpellier as both sides continued their exchanges of baskets.

Then Gomis scored as the home side maintained their advantage (30-24) after 12 minutes of play.

Montpellier changed their defensive options. This stopped their opponents from having opportunities to score from beyond the arc. At the same time they also made modifications to their offensive options.

Sheana Mosch and Whittington were quick on the mark for Montpellier with 2 points each. Mosch then became the passer as Manon Vierne fired a three-pointer.

By then Montpellier had reduced the deficit to a single point (31-32).

Fenerbahce tried to put a stop to Montpellier's advance but were unable to score from the field of the free-throw line.

This misfortune allowed Montpellier to go in front for the first time in the game when Vierne hit a three-pointer after a pass out from Whittington (34-32).

Melike Bakircioglu levelled the score from the free-throw line for Fenerbahce. However Montpellier were back in front thanks to Whittington.

Gaëlle Skrela then hit a trey to give Montpellier their largest lead of the game (39-34).

The home side managed to stop Montpellier from scoring for the last 90 seconds of the quarter while scoring 4 points.Yet Montpellier went into the locker room ahead (39-38).

Nevriye lights up EuroLeague Women Match after the interval

Nevriye Yilmaz and Nevin Nevlin who had been quiet during the first half of the match for Fenerbahce scored all 15 points during the first four minutes of the third period.

The game was nicely poised (53-53).

Bertal restored the advantage briefly for Montpellier but Tammy Sutton-Brown put the hosts back in the lead with a three-point play (2+1).

The lead was to change hands several times during the two minutes that followed.

Finally the hosts with Yilmaz scoring her 13th point of the period went in front (64-62).

Furthermore Sutton-Brown continued to trouble Montpellier and scored 4 more points (68-62).

Then Sylvie Gruszczynski scored a couple of free-throws at the end of the period that sent Montpellier into the final period with a 4-point deficit (64-68).

Montpellier scored the first 7 points of the final period to regain the lead once again (71-68).

Nevlin ended Fenerbahce's five-minute barren spell as she began her one-women charge at Montpellier.

Mosch scored for Montpellier. But Nelvin was back with another three-point play (2+1) for Fenerbahce to draw level.

Gomis' 7th assist came as she delivered the pass for Yilmaz to score. Hence the hosts were back in front (75-73).

The two sides continued to play cat and mouse and with 19 seconds left in regular time Gomis (right) scored to leave both sides level (79-79).

Overtime belonged to the hosts

After all the excitement of the previous quarter overtime was an anti-climax. Fenerbahce scored the first 7 points and Montpellier were unable to recover.

The guests only managed 4 points for the last five minutes and ended up losing their fourth EuroLeague Women match (83-90).

For Fenerbahce Nilvin and Yilmaz led the scoring with 17 points each. Nilvin also had 19 rebounds.

Four other players notched up double digits Powell, Sutton-Brown, Gomis (8 assists) and Tuncluer with 15, 14, 11 and 10 points each.

For Montpellier Mosch scored 21 points while Gruszczynski and Bertal finished on 17 and 15 points apiece.

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EuroLeague Women picture credits:
FIBA Europe
Date created: 05 November 2008

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