May 15, 2019

On Wednesday, Fenerbahce looked to end the series without having to hit the road again.  They built up a big lead again and Chelsea Gray could not bring Cukurova back on her own this time as the top seed lost 80-68.  It was a season filled with drama for the league powerhouse, but when it mattered most, they found a lineup to stick with and won another championship.

Fenerbahce vs. Cukurova 80-68 FEN Vardarli 18/9r/6a Plum 14 Zandalasini 13 Vaughn 10/7r Canitez 9 Stokes 8/14r CUK Gray 26/6a Bone 11/7r Uzun 11 Ndour 4 Mestdagh 0

Fenerbahce wins series 3-1

May 13, 2019

The series moved to Istanbul on Monday and Kelsey Plum and Fenerbahce quickly built a big lead, winning 88-70.  Cukurova will now need a win on Wednesday to bring the series back home while the hosts will be trying to win again to close out the series.

Fenerbahce vs. Cukurova 88-70 FEN Plum 27 Vardarli 18/7a Stokes 11/15r Zandalasini 11 Canitez 7 Vaughn 4/6r CUK Bilgic 16 Gray 16/7a Ndour 13 Bone 11/10r Mestdagh 3

Fenerbahce leads series 2-1

May 10, 2019

Wanting to avoid a big deficit, Fenerbahce tweaked their lineup again on Friday, opting to field the group that got them back on track in the last series.  Kia Vaughn was one of the holdovers, helping them build on their lead after three quarters.  Cukurova tried to storm back in the final frame, but their rally fell short 69-67.  The result ensures that a fourth game will be played as Istanbul will host the next games on Monday and Wednesday.

Cukurova vs. Fenerbahce 67-69 CUK Gray 19/8a Bone 16/11r Ndour 14/9r Mestdagh 0 FEN Vaughn 20/9r Plum 18 Zandalasini 12 Stokes 6 Canitez 2

Series tied 1-1

May 8, 2019

Despite some drama on the way, the expected championship matchup started on Wednesday.  Kelsey Plum helped Fenerbahce have the faster start, but top seed Cukurova controlled the second half behind an exceptional effort from Chelsea Gray to win 78-71.  The teams will meet again in the same venue on Friday.

Cukurova vs. Fenerbahce 78-71 CUK Gray 41 Ndour 13 Bone 9/11r Mestdagh 0 FEN Plum 27 Vaughn 16/6r Canitez 8/8r Hartley 8

May 4, 2019

The fierce rivals met one final time on Saturday to end a thrilling series and the last game did not disappoint.  Galatasaray was shorthanded, but managed to build a lead in the third quarter.  Fenerbahce fielded the same lineup as the last game and rallied down the stretch, scraping by with a 54-51 win.  Despite all of the drama, the outcome was the expected one in the end and Fenerbahce will now travel to Cukurova for the first game of the championship series on Wednesday.

Fenerbahce vs. Galatasaray 54-51 FEN Stokes 13/8r Plum 12 Canitez 10/11r Zandalasini 4 Vaughn 2 GAL Abdi 18 Grigalauskyte 12/9r Macaulay 11/8r

Fenerbahce wins series 3-2

Both series continued at the homes of the lower seeds.  Galatasaray was looking to clinch at home on Wednesday, but Fenerbahce was not going to let their rivals go without a deciding game on Saturday, shuffling their lineup again in a 57-49 win.  One team did take care of business as Chelsea Gray and Cukurova built a lead with a fast start and managed to hold off Botas 63-57 on Thursday.

May 1, 2019

Galatasaray vs. Fenerbahce 49-57 GAL Jefferson 16 Macaulay 13/8r Abdi 11 FEN Zandalasini 16/6r Canitez 14/7r Plum 12 Stokes 4 Vaughn 2/8r

Series tied 2-2

May 2, 2019

Botas vs. Cukurova 57-63 BOT Krivacevic 13 Williams 11/9r Cakir 11/6a CUK Gray 20 Bilgic 17/12r Ndour 15/7r Bone 11/11r

Cukurova wins series 3-1

Galatasaray got to host on Monday after stealing a game on the road and built a lead early on their bitter rivals Fenerbahce.  It was close at halftime, but Moriah Jefferson helped the hosts increase the margin again on their way to a 74-59 win, giving themselves a chance to complete a shocking upset on Wednesday.  On Tuesday, Botas used a balanced effort to extend their season, beating Cukurova 82-72 despite the best efforts of Chelsea Gray and setting up another game on Thursday.

April 29, 2019

Galatasaray vs. Fenerbahce 74-59 GAL Jefferson 25/8r Alben 12/6a Abdi 10 Macaulay 9 FEN Verameyenka 10/9r Vardarli 10 Plum 10 Hartley 9 Vaughn 8 Canitez 4/6r

Galatasaray leads series 2-1

April 30, 2019

Botas vs. Cukurova 82-72 BOT Cakir 16/6r/9a Krivacevic 14 Cuic 14 Williams 13/9r Akbas 13 CUK Gray 23/8a Bone 16/10r Ivegin 12 Ndour 11/10r

Cukurova leads series 2-1

The first series continued on Friday and Fenerbahce started very slowly.  They fought back late, but Galatasaray used the combination of Isil Alben and Victoria Macaulay to win 59-48 and tie the series before getting to host the next two games.  Cukurova won easily on Saturday 70-46, leaving Botas needing a win when they host the next game on Tuesday.

April 26, 2019

Fenerbahce vs. Galatasaray 48-59 FEN Stokes 12/10r Hartley 9/8r Zandalasini 9 Canitez 3 GAL Alben 22 Macaulay 20 Jefferson 6/7a Abdi 4/7r

Series tied 1-1

April 27, 2019

Cukurova vs. Botas 70-46 CUK Bone 18/9r Ndour 12/7r Uzun 12 Gray 7/7r/6a BOT Krivacevic 11 Cakir 8 Williams 6/7r

Cukurova leads series 2-0

The great rivals started their series on Thursday with Fenerbahce beating Galatasaray 72-51.  Well-rested Cukurova welcomed Botas on Thursday and won 74-50.  Each series will have one rest day before continuing in the same venues.

April 24, 2019

Fenerbahce vs. Galatasaray 72-51 FEN Hartley 17 Verameyenka 16/8r Stokes 13/13r Canitez 4/7 Zandalasini 2 GAL Macaulay 15 Abdi 12 Jefferson 9/7a

April 25, 2019

Cukurova vs. Botas 74-50 CUK Ndour 18 Gray 16/6r/8a Bone 11/11r Mestdagh 3 BOT Cakir 15 Garrick 11 Williams 8/6r Krivacevic 2

April 22, 2019

One series needed a deciding game and it was played on Monday.  It was another close game between the teams, but Elizabeth Williams was the difference for Botas in a 64-62 win over Mersin.  They advance to the semifinals against top seed Cukurova starting on Thursday while the Fenerbahce-Galatasaray rivalry rumble starts Wednesday.

Botas vs. Mersin 64-62 BOT Williams 24/12r Krivacevic 12 Cakir 5 MER Petronyte 18/7r Walker 15/8r Anderson 14 Yalcin 11/6a

Botas wins series 2-1