71-73: Valencia Basket achieves a historic victory in Istanbul

Valencia Basket got one unprecedented victory on the Fenerbahçe Tarfin court (71-73) On the fourth day of the EuroLeague Women.

The group led by Javi Torralba broke his curse against the Turkish team, whom he had never managed to defeat in his ten previous matches, and conquered Istanbul thanks to two free kicks from Alexis Peterson-Smalls one second from the end.

A victory against the current champion that allows the taronjas to balance their balance in the competition (2-2). 15 leadership changes, nine ties and Peterson-Smalls, with 21 points, as a great offensive reference for a team that never stopped believing.

The start was encouraging for the visitors. A partial score of 2-13 allowed Valencia Basket to take a seven-point lead and forced the local team to stop the match. Laura Juskaite and Nell Angloma They participated in the local comeback until the score was equal. Despite this, Valencia managed to close the first quarter with a one-point advantage (22-23).

Fenerbahçe’s defense began to hinder the circulation of the ball and the taronja team went through an offensive jam that lasted for almost two and a half minutes. The Turkish team took advantage of these problems to get ahead and began to find advantages with Emma Meesseman.

Peterson-Smalls assumed responsibilities to keep Valencia in the game, while Elizabeth Balogun contributed from the perimeter to reduce the gap. But the fouls and the difficulties in finding good shots ended up taking their toll at halftime. Fenerbahçe went to the locker room with a five-point advantage (42-37).

Valencia Basket resumed the game with more energy. Two consecutive triples changed the score and returned the initiative to the visiting team, which once again demonstrated that it had arguments to compete head to head with the current champion. Fenerbahçe’s response came mainly from the paint, where Lauren Betts began to make a difference. Javi Torralba had to intervene from the bench, but Angloma extended the Turkish lead to seven points.

The last period had everything. Carrera added Valencia’s first points, although Fenerbahçe responded with a 4-0 that made the visitors’ options even more complicated. In addition, Valencia Basket entered the bonus when there were still more than six minutes left, while the locals had not yet committed any fouls in the fourth.

But the taronja team rose again. A triple of Elizabeth Balogun prompted a reaction that completely changed the dynamic. Valencia tightened its defense, found better attacking situations and turned a seven-point deficit into an open ending in which anything could happen.

Peterson-Smalls decides the victory with two free throws

The last minutes were a veritable series of errors, which multiplied on both teams, and the match was also marked by concern over a possible major injury to Tima Pouye.

In that context, Valencia Basket found the determination it needed to deliver the final blow. Raquel Carrera brought the visitors closer from the free throw (68-67) with approximately two and a half minutes remaining. Shortly after, Alexis Peterson-Smalls attacked the rim and converted the basket that made it 68-69, returning the advantage to the Taronjas in a decisive moment.

Fenerbahçe still had an answer. Laura Juskaite made two free throws to make it 70-69 with 52 seconds left, but Chloe Bibby took responsibility for the next action. The player caused a foul on a three-point shot and converted two of her three free throws to regain control (70-71).

Leila Lacan received a tight foul from Pueyo and scored one of her two shots from the personal line. The scoreboard showed a tie at 71 and Valencia Basket had the last possession to win.

The ball ended up in the hands of Peterson-Smalls, whoand looked for penetration, received a foul and headed to the free throw line with just one second left. The American did not fail. Two converted shots, 71-73.