New Zealand
The championship game was on Sunday after a very competitive regular season. The game was close at halftime, but the Whai, which had been the lowest in the standings out of the four playoff teams, dominated the second half to defeat the Pouakai, getting 20 rebounds from Laina Snyder in the process.
Asia
All of the series in Japan were on a Saturday-Sunday schedule, including a matchup of the first place and last place teams that the Antelopes swept over the Vickies, but only after an unexpected overtime game as Channon Fluker scored 33 points in the loss. The only other sweep was also near the top of the standings as the Iris hold second place after their wins over the Sunshine Rabbits. The Red Wave recovered for a split with the Magic and there were blowouts in both directions between the Sunflowers and Wings. The Cougars swept the Rabbits as it was also first place against last place in the lower group. The Aranmare are behind them after a sweep of the Koalas that included an overtime win. There was a split between the Egrets and the league newcomers to keep them tied in the standings.
There were two series in Kazakhstan on a Saturday-Sunday format. Okzhetpes had an easy sweep of last place Zhetisu. Undefeated Astana put some distance between themselves and the rest of the field, getting a sweep that included a 33 point game from Ganna Rulyova against their nearest rival Turan.
The week in South Korea started with a great game that saw BNK just hold off the Stars on Wednesday. The Stars lost again on Friday, this time to Woori Bank. BNK had another close win on Saturday over the S-Birds and then Hana Bank continued their run in first place with a win over the Blue Minx. Woori Bank prevailed in a defensive battle on Sunday and then the Stars got some good news with their win over the Blue Minx on Monday.
Guangdong is the only undefeated team in the upper group in China after a big overtime win in their finals rematch with Sichuan. Liaoning is perfect in the lower group, getting a 19 point, 15 rebound, 12 assist triple-double from Myisha Hines-Allen in one of their wins. Aisha Sheppard had the highest-scoring game with 41 points, followed by a fantastic 40 point game from Sidney Cooks, while Chennedy Carter reached the 30 point mark again.
Argentina
It was the second week of round-robin tournaments in Argentina with each conference determining the two teams that would advance to the final stage. The North was decided first and it came down to the final game as Julieta Sienra’s 32 points got Instituto the win that they needed while the margin also sent Hindu through at Chanares’s expense in the tiebreaker. No calculations were needed in the South, but Obras’s overtime win over El Talar did make the difference when it came to who would join Ferro.
Around Europe
It was the first week of the unified competition featuring three teams each from Albania and Kosovo as there were two cross-national matchups on Wednesday. Kiki Jefferson scored 30 points to secure Peja’s win over Flamurtari and Destiny Bohanon had 31 points in Bashkimi’s win over Partizani. Bernada Rreshpja had 33 points in a loss in Albanian league play while the opposition got 33 points from Adia Brisker, 22 rebounds from Asia Henderson, and 16 assists from Ja Harvey after playing their starters for the entire game. In Kosovo’s league play, Ky’Leo Worriels had 35 points and Lauren Carter had a 29 point, 12 rebound, 11 steal triple-double in the win while Paige Powell had 37 points in the loss.
It was the All-Star Game in Cyprus and the game and competitions were both co-ed. Cup play in Serbia included 17 assists from Andjela Radovic for the division upset as Makinna Serrata had 34 points in the loss and a 32 point effort for Marija Trisovic in a loss. In league play, Kiara Smith had 30 points while veteran Dunja Buzadzin had 32 points in a game that saw young phenom Jovana Popovic score 31 points while getting ready for her college career. Marija Cvijovic had 30 points when second division action resumed over the weekend. Lauryn Taylor had 20 rebounds in a loss in Romania’s cup. Bianca Fota’s 28 points in league play were enough to edge her opponent by a point. Anysa Jordan had back-to-back 34 point games in the second division there.
There were spectacular cup games in Iceland as well, including Jada Guinn recording a 30 point, 10 rebound, 16 assist triple-double in a win that saw Leilani Kapinus score 32 points in the loss. Keishana Washington scored 33 points, Marta Hermida scored 38 points, and Brittany Dinkins had a 20 point, 10 rebound, 10 assist triple-double. In league play earlier, Ellen Nystrom had 42 points, Molly Kaiser had 37 points, and Dinkins had 36 points.
Chase for Promotion
Essence Booker had 40 points in a loss in Turkey’s second division while Liatu King had 34 points in a win. Viktoriia Anisimova had a 32 point game in Ukraine’s second division. Merissah Russell had a 38 point game in Spain’s third division. 39 points from Charity Gallegos was not enough in Portugal’s second division as Sofia Sousa had 32 points in the win. Maud Stervinou had 36 points in France’s second division.
Notable Individual Performances
Julia Chadwick grabbed 20 rebounds in Switzerland. Mari Stewart had a 36 point, 21 rebound, 10 steal triple-double in Norway. Sanja Adamovska had a 15 point, 13 rebound, 13 assist triple-double in North Macedonia. Charlotte Van Kleef had 34 points in the Netherlands. Shyanne Sellers had a 39 point game in Israel. Rim Taha had a 12 point, 10 rebound, 10 steal triple-double in Denmark. Jelena Tadic had 31 points in the Bosnian league.
Azana Baines had 33 points in an overtime win in Sweden that saw Irene Perez record a 13 point, 13 rebound, 10 assist triple-double for the opposition. In Malta, Olesia Malashenko had 23 rebounds and Olivia Wikstrom had 35 points. In Luxembourg, Jordan King and Brazil Harvey-Carr each had 30 points. Sha Carter had 10 steals in Greece while Danni Williams had 34 points. In the British league, Paige Meyer had 33 points to help her team win after Georgia Gayle had 40 points for the opposition. In Croatia, E’Lease Stafford had 35 points in the win while Brooke Flowers grabbed 23 rebounds in the loss.
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