In a hard-fought contest, Samsun Basket upsets visiting Beşiktaş Cola Turka Women’s Basketball, 83-76 at Yaşar Doğu Sports Hall.

After Alison Bales opened scoring with a free-throw, Julie McBride converted a layup few seconds later to make it 3-0 for the home squad. But Müjde Yüksel buried a three- pointer and Alexis Hornbuckle nailed a jumper to give the Black and White a 3-5 edge two minutes into opening quarter. Then Laura Harber and Milica Dabovic teamed up to knock down back-to-back buckets to stretch the visitors’ advantage to 6-9 at the 4:15 mark. However, thanks to consecutive baskets by Erlana Larkins and Nihan Anaz, Samsun would eventually regain the lead; and surge ahead, 10-9, midway through the quarter. Nevertheless, Gergena Branzova Erdenay and Milica Daboviç combined to score a string of unanswered points in the dying minutes to put the Lady Black and White up, 17-20, entering into the second quarter.

Beşiktaş Cola Turka carried its fast-paced momentum into the second frame and widened its lead to 7 points on a pair of jumpers by Laura Harper. Samsun responded with İlkay Masa and Julie Mcbride to remain within a close distance; but the hot-shooting trio of Milica Dabovic, Gergena Branzova Erdenay reeled of 11 straight points that enlarged the gap to 25-34 at the halfway mark. However, the home team refused to go away and managed to pull within four, 30-34, with consecutive layups by Erlana Larkins and Alison Bales, who went on to dominate offensive board in the closing stages. Nonetheless, Alexis Hornbuckle would step up in the dying seconds and give the Black and White a six-point, 34-40, cushion going into the locker room at the halftime break.

Beşiktaş Cola Turka opened the second half with Naile İvegin’s 18-footer to push its lead to eight points, 34-42. However, Earlane Larkins and Julie McBride started pouring it in from the parameter in a 6-0 run that brought the deficit down to two points at 40-42. The Black and White tried to regain the lead with Laura Harper’s layups; but Eraline Larkins, Burcu Uzun and Julie McPride doubled their efforts for another 6-0 run and put Samsun Basket back in front, 46-44. Although, the Black and White tied the game on a running jumper by Alexis Hornbuckle, who was carrying the load offensive for the visitors during this time, almost single-handedly; a late 9-0 spurt helped the revitalized home side take a 59-53 lead into final quarter of game.

After Nihan Anaz, from Samsun, Basket drove to the hoop for a layup to start the fourth stanza, Laura Harper and Alison Bales exchanged baskets and the score remained close in the early moments. Then Milica Dabovic and Müjde Yüksel connected on two clutch three-pointers and trimmed the margin to 63-61. However, Samsun refused to get caught; as back-to-back baskets by Nihan Anaz and Adeola Olanrewaju quickly restored the home team’s 6 points advantage at 69-63 with 4:00 left. Müjde Yüksel scored 5 straight points to pull the Black and White within 71-68 entering final three minutes. However, Julie McBride and Burcu Uzun drained consecutive jumpers down the stretch to keep the point intact and lead their team past Beşiktaş 83-67.