Prince Marches on in EuroLeague; Hartley and Mersin 1-Point Short in EuroCup Quarters
Epiphanny Prince and Dynamo Kursk confirmed their spot in the EuroLeague Final Four last week, sweeping their quarterfinal series with Familia Schio to remain unbeaten on the year. Prince scored 15 points in the decisive win to help power her team to a win.
For Kia Vaughn and Fenerbahce, one more game against Sopron Basket is needed to decide who marches on, with a decisive game three coming this week after Fenerbahce suffered a 78-72 loss in game two despite 18 points from Vaughn.
Amanda Zahui B and USK Praha saw their EuroLeague season draw to a close after suffering a 2nd loss to UMMC.
In the EuroCup quarterfinals, Bria Hartley and Mersin came up one point short of forcing a third game, beating Venezia 65-60, but needing to win by exactly six to overcome the point differential from their game-one loss. Hartley dropped 19 points for Mersin.
LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kiah Stokes – Botas
Kiah Stokes enjoyed a monster performance for Botas in a 79-72 win over Galatasaray last week, scoring 14 points to go along with 13 boards and 3 blocked shots; Stokes continues to lead the entire Turkish League averaging 2.4 blocks per game. At 13-7, Stokes has Botas tied for 4th in the Turkish League standings.

France-LFB (10-7, Ranked T-4th)

GM | MIN | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3FG | 3FGA | 3FG% | FTM | FTA | FT% | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | |
#8 R. ALLEN (France) | 17 | 27.9 | 47 | 105 | .448 | 20 | 67 | .299 | 16 | 18 | .889 | 5.3 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 10.0 |
Rebecca Allen buried 3 3-pointers on the way to a 15-point performance in an 84-60 win over Roche last week. Lyon improved to 10-7 overall, remaining in a tie for 4th place in the league table with 5 regular season games remaining. Allen shot 6-of-10 from the field overall, and also had 6 rebounds and 3 steals in 27 minutes of action. She is averaging 10.0 ppg now with 5.3 rpg and 2.4 apg. Lyon returns to action against Nice on March 16.

France-LFB (9-8, Ranked T-6th)
EuroLeague Group B (1-12, Ranked 8th)

GM | MIN | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3FG | 3FGA | 3FG% | FTM | FTA | FT% | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | |
#14 S. RRODGERS (France) | 6 | 32.0 | 4 | 25 | .160 | 18 | 51 | .353 | 4 | 4 | 1.000 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 11.0 |
Sugar Rodgers buried 6 3-pointers to tally 18 points and help BLMA hold off Hainaut 69-65 in a critical French League victory last week. Rodgers also hauled in 8 rebounds with 3 assists and 3 steals. She is averaging 11.0 ppg with 3.3 rpg and 3.7 apg through 6 games with BLMA. She is back in action this weekend against Roche on March 17.

Czech Republic-ZBL (20-0, Ranked 1st)
EuroLeague Group A (8-6, Ranked 3rd)

GM | MIN | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3FG | 3FGA | 3FG% | FTM | FTA | FT% | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | |
#17 A. ZAHUI B (Czech Republic) | 19 | 24.2 | 122 | 189 | .646 | 14 | 30 | .467 | 73 | 85 | .859 | 7.1 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 18.9 |
#17 A. ZAHUI B (EuroLeague) | 16 | 31.7 | 86 | 184 | .467 | 14 | 42 | .333 | 54 | 71 | .761 | 8.1 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 16.8 |
Amanda Zahui B and USK Praha saw their run in the EuroLeague postseason tournament come to an end after suffering a 73-54 setback to UMMC last week in Prague. Zahui B scored 9 points with 6 rebounds in game two of the quarterfinal series against the powerhouse team from the Russian League, and finished her 16 EuroLeague games with impressive numbers, averaging 16.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg, and shooting .467 from the field. In the Czech League, USK Praha continued its unbeaten run, improving to 20-0 with a 75-59 win over Sokol HK, where Zahui B came off the bench to score 8 points with 5 rebounds in just 22 minutes. USK Praha will complete the Czech League regular season this week with games against MK Technic and Nymburk.

Russia-PBL (16-0, Ranked 1st)
EuroLeague Group A (14-0, Ranked 1st)

GM | MIN | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3FG | 3FGA | 3FG% | FTM | FTA | FT% | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | |
#10 E. PRINCE (Russia) | 16 | 21.0 | 33 | 61 | .541 | 17 | 37 | .459 | 15 | 15 | 1.000 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 8.3 |
#10 E. PRINCE (EuroLeague) | 16 | 26.0 | 38 | 78 | .487 | 27 | 60 | .450 | 15 | 16 | .938 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 10.8 |
Epiphanny Prince and Dynamo Kursk are into the EuroLeague semifinals after picking up a sweep of Familia Schio in the quarterfinal round, defeating them 73-60 in game two last week. Prince was dynamic in the clinching win, scoring 15 points 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Kursk will play in the EuroLeague Final Four weekend April 20-22. In the domestic Russian League, an easy 101-72 victory over MBA improved Kursk to 17-0 on the year. Prince came off the bench to score 11 points in 19 minutes in the victory. Dynamo Kursk will face Dynamo Moscow twice this week with four regular season games remaining in Russia.

Russia-PBL (6-12, Ranked T-9th)
EEWBL Group B (5-2, Ranked 3rd)

GM | MIN | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3FG | 3FGA | 3FG% | FTM | FTA | FT% | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | |
#15 L. ALLEN (Russia) | 18 | 30.9 | 65 | 152 | .428 | 14 | 30 | .467 | 40 | 55 | .727 | 3.5 | 5.4 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 11.8 |
#15 L. ALLEN (EEWBL) | 9 | 31.0 | 29 | 55 | .527 | 3 | 12 | .250 | 24 | 30 | .800 | 3.9 | 5.8 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 10.1 |
Lindsay Allen and Dynamo Moscow are gearing up for the EEWBL semifinals, where they will face TTT Riga on March 17. Moscow has won 6-straight EEWBL games after getting off to an 0-3 start. In the Russian League, Allen and Moscow suffered a 101-49 setback to 2nd place UMMC, with Allen dishing out 6 assists as she continues to lead the league averaging 5.4 apg. Prior to its matchup with TTT Riga, Allen and Moscow will face Epiphanny Prince and Dynamo Kursk on March 13.

Turkey-KBSL (13-7, Ranked T-4th)
EuroCup Group B (4-2, 2nd)

GM | MIN | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3FG | 3FGA | 3FG% | FTM | FTA | FT% | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | |
#14 B. HARTLEY (Turkey) | 20 | 32.2 | 95 | 209 | .455 | 45 | 129 | .349 | 82 | 97 | .845 | 3.0 | 4.3 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 20.4 |
#14 B. HARTLEY (EuroCup) | 14 | 30.9 | 58 | 138 | .420 | 25 | 69 | .362 | 56 | 70 | .800 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 17.6 |
Bria Hartley and Mersin were eliminated from the EuroCup postseason tournament in the quarterfinal round in heartbreaking fashion. After suffering a 6-point loss at home in game one of their series, Mersin bounced back to take game two 65-60, with Hartley scoring 19 points with 6 assists. However, because of the 6-point loss last week, despite the win Mersin was still down by one point in the aggregate scoring, and Venezia moved on the the semifinals. In the Turkish League, Hartley scored 14 points with 3 assists and 2 rebounds in a 70-65 win over Shavonte Zellous and Besiktas. Mersin improved to 13-7 overall, and is tied with Botas for the No. 4 position in the league standings. This week, Hartley and Mersin will face 1st place Yakin Dogu, followed by a meeting with 2nd place Hatay next week.

Turkey-KBSL (16-4, Ranked 3rd)
EuroLeague Group B (10-4, Ranked 3rd)

GM | MIN | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3FG | 3FGA | 3FG% | FTM | FTA | FT% | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | |
#8 K. VAUGHN (Turkey) | 19 | 25.1 | 73 | 137 | .533 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 23 | 32 | .719 | 6.6 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 8.9 |
#8 K. VAUGHN (EuroLeague) | 16 | 29.6 | 65 | 133 | .489 | 0 | 3 | .000 | 30 | 39 | .769 | 6.3 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 10.0 |
Kia Vaughn and Fenerbahce will head to a decisive game three in their EuroLeague quarterfinal series against Sopron Baket with a berth into the Final Four on the line. After winning game one two weeks ago, Fenerbahce was edged 78-72 in game two and the two teams will meet again on March 14. Vaughn had a big game despite the setback, scoring 18 points with 8 rebounds. Fenerbahce also lost to Hatay in the Turkish League, 77-72, to fall a game back in the league table for 3rd place overall. Vaughn scored 4 points with 6 rebounds in the game. After the winner-take-all game three against Sopron Basket, Fenerbahce will face Botas on March 18.

Turkey-KBSL (13-7, T-4th)

GM | MIN | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3FG | 3FGA | 3FG% | FTM | FTA | FT% | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | |
#41 K. STOKES (Turkey) | 20 | 31.6 | 116 | 198 | .586 | 0 | 2 | .000 | 54 | 73 | .740 | 13.5 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 14.3 |
Behind a big double-double from Kiah Stokes Botas was able to pick up a 79-72 win over Galatasaray last week to improve to 13-7 in the Turkish League. Stokes finished with 14 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots for Botas, and is averaging 14.3 ppg, 13.5 rpg, and a league-leading 2.4 bpg. Botas will face 3rd place Fenerbahce this weekend.

Turkey-KBSL (12-8, 6th)
EuroCup Group A (1-5, T-3rd)

GM | MIN | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3FG | 3FGA | 3FG% | FTM | FTA | FT% | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | |
#1 S. ZELLOUS (Turkey) | 15 | 28.1 | 61 | 131 | .466 | 13 | 40 | .325 | 62 | 70 | .886 | 5.5 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 14.9 |
#1 S. ZELLOUS (EuroCup) | 2 | 35.0 | 4 | 13 | .308 | 2 | 4 | .500 | 6 | 10 | .600 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 10.0 |
Shavonte Zellous scored 19 points and had 3 steals for Besiktas but it was not enough in a 70-65 loss to Bria Hartley and Mersin last week. With the setback, Besiktas dropped down to 6th place in the league standings with six games to play. Zellous is averaging 14.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 3.3 apg for Besiktas this season. They return to action this weekend against Bornova.