Fenerbahçe takes lead in final series

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Fenerbahçe’s McCoughtry (R) tries to basket against Galatasaray’s Charles. AA photo

Angel McCoughtry led scoring with 20 points, as Fenerbahçe beat Galatasaray Medical Park 75-69 on April 12 to lead the Turkish Women’s Basketball League playoff final series 1-0.

Fenerbahçe will take the home team advantage on April 14 as the two archrivals meet at the Caferağa Sports Hall in the best-of-five series.

On Thursday, Cappie Pondexter shot 17 points and Zane Tamane scored 13 points for Fenerbahçe.

Galatasaray, bidding to end its rival’s six-year title-winning run, scored 20 points from Tina Charles and 19 from Sylvia Fowles but Diana Taurasi’s impact was limited to 12 points.

Taurasi, a former Fenerbahçe player, was subjected to protests from the Fenerbahçe supporters.

Galatasaray will try to steal a win at Caferağa to overturn its home court disadvantage.

The two teams have met six times this season, with Fenerbahçe winning four of them.

Apart from the two regular season games and the first playoff win, Fenerbahçe has also beat Galatasaray last month when the two teams played in the Women Euroleague Final Eight.

Galatasaray’s two wins came in the Presidential Cup and Turkish Cup finals.