Galatasaray’s women’s basketball team cap perfect season with league title

ISTANBUL

The wvictory ended Galatasaray’s 14-year trophy drought, as well as finishing Fenerbahçe’s eight-year run of league titles.

Galatasaray Odeabank has crushed Fenerbahçe to claim the Turkish women’s basketball title, capping a brilliant season for the Lions.

Galatasaray beat Fenerbahçe 73-54 in the deciding game of the best-of-five playoff series, completing a 3-2 win overall.

“We are very happy to have won the title,” Coach Ekrem Memnun told reporters. “It has been a perfect season for us.”

The victory ended Galatasaray’s 14-year trophy drought, as well as finishing Fenerbahçe’s eight-year run of league titles.

Guard Şebnem Kimyacıoğlu said: “We have finally lifted the trophy that we have wanted for so long. It is an unbelievable feeling.”

Galatasaray’s perfect season also included a Euroleague triumph and a Turkish Cup victory over their rivals Fenerbahçe.

Center Kelsey Bone said a treble had been on the players’ mind since the start of the season, and added they were very happy to have achieved it.

Galatasaray started the series on a high note, winning the first two games, but Fenerbahçe clawed back to level the series at two each. However, Galatasaray gave no chance to its rival on May 5, dominating the game from start to finish.

The Lions started with a 7-0 run, which was only interrupted by a single free throw by Fenerbahçe center Quanitra Hollingsworth. Galatasaray finished the first period 17-6 up.

Another strong start to the second period saw Galatasaray jump to 24-8, and finish the first half 40-18 ahead.

Fenerbahçe found some hope after returning from the interval with a 7-0 run and cut the deficit to 19 points with 14 minutes to go, but Galatasaray responded with another run and the third period finished 63-31. The Lions held onto their win until the end and claimed their 12th league title.

Spanish superstar Alba Torrens scored 21 points, while veteran Turkish center Nevriye Yılmaz had 15 points. Sancho Lyttle had a double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds.

Cappie Pondexter was the only Fenerbahçe player to score double figures with 12 points.