Fenerbahçe loses Euroleague Women Final to Ekaterinburg

YEKATERINBURG, Russia

Fenerbahçe has made Turkish basketball history with its runner up finish. REUTERS photo

Fenerbahçe lost 82-56 to host UMMC Ekaterinburg in the Euroleague Women final game on Sunday.

The Turkish champion was unable to recover from a poor start and lost to the solid Russian side in the title match of European basketball’s top-level women’s competition.

Ekaterinburg started the game with a storm of a 17-2 run and never looked back after finishing the first quarter 26-11.

Despite the defeat, the runner-up finish meant Fenerbahçe made Turkish basketball history, being the first women’s team to appear in a European title game.

American guard Candace Parker scored 24 points and 11 rebounds to lead Ekaterinburg to the victory, while French Sandrine Gruda added 19 points and eight rebounds.

Serbian center Ivana Matovic and American guard Angel McCoughtry scored 22 points apiece for Fenerbahçe, but the Turkish team could not get contributions from key players Cappie Pondexter and Birsel Vardarlı. Pondexter finished with one point in a disappointing 0-for-14 percentage, while Turkish guard Vardarlı did not score any points.

Parker was named the Most Valuable Player of the Final Eight with her average of 17.4 points and 12 rebounds through the competition.