Near East University Women’s Basketball Team defeating Hatay BŞB 86-79 became the champion of 2018. Women Hatay, After 2017, becaming the champion of Turkey Cup 2018, Near East University took the Cup to its museum second time, and with this score, won the fifth cup, including Turkey Cup, EuroCup, Turkey League Championship and the President’s Cup. Near East University has shown its success in winning all the lanes it has competed in the last two seasons.

According to the information given by the Near East University Sports Club, Near East University Basketball Team defeating the Abdullah Gül University with a score of 88-53 in the quarter-finals held in Mardin Artuklu New Sports Hall on 21-25 February, then defeating Botaş Sports79-63 in the semi-finals, won the championship in the final game with Hatay BŞB with a score of 86-79. Near East University received the championship cup from Turkey Women’s Basketball Federation President Hedo Turkoglu’s hand. The most valuable player of the match was Courtney Vandersloot from Near East University. scoring19 points, 4 rebounds, and 12 assists.

Near East University went on to the great challange with Coourtney Vandersloot, Kayla McBride, Bahar Çağlar, Olcay Cakir Turgut and Sandrine Gruda. Match periods completed 20-21, 45-34, 69-52 and 86-79.

Near East University made the opening in the final game with Courtney Vandersloot’s score. In the first period when mutual scores were made, the score were equated to 6-6 within the first three minutes. Olcay Cakir Turgut’in three-point scoring basket pushed NEU ahead with a score of 9-6, and the score was 11-8 at the end of the fifth minute. The last two minutes of the period was 14-15, and the period ended 20-21, Hatay ahead.

The second period starting with Hatay BSB’s scores, ended in favour of the Near East University, which increased the defensive power and was effective in offensive, made the difference, and led to the last two minutes 41-32 ahead. Near East University finished the first period 45-34 ahead.

The second half of the match started with Kayla McBride’s three-point basket in favour of Near East University (48-34). The Near East University, which continued to produce numbers and make a gap of 20 points with its rival, moved the score to 66-46 at 02.10. Near East University period completed the period 69-52 ahead.

Near East University, which started an effective and dominant game for the final period, scored 72-52 without giving a chance to its rival in the first two minutes. The score of 76-59 was the result in the last five minutes with the advantage of Near East University. Hatay BŞB made the score 83-71 in the last 2.5 minutes of the final game and reduced the gap to 10 points. Even though the Hatay team tried to become a dominant rival in the game, Near East University had a superior game and kept the gap ahead, 86-79, and once more printed its name on the cup.

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Near East University; Kayla McBride 26 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, Courtney Vandersloot 19 points, 4 rebounds, 12 assists, Cansu Köksal 13 points, 3 rebounds, Jantel Lavender 8 points, Bahar Çağlar 6 points, 5 rebounds, Quanitra Hollignsvorth 4 points, 6 rebounds , Olcay Cakir Turgut with 8 points were the leading names of the team.

Hatay BSB; Hind Ben Abdelkader scored 30 points, 3 rebounds, Courtney Paris 14 points, 15 rebounds, Leilani Mitchell 10 points, Bahar Öztürk 8 points, 11 rebounds, and Özge Yavaş made 5 points.

Zafer Kalaycıoğlu; “We will celebrate the cups with the Turkish Cypriot People”
Zafer Kalaycıoğlu, the Women’s Basketball Team’s Head Coach of the Near East University commented on the championships after the match, “Last year, we won all the cups. We proved that we are a brand in women’s basketball. So we are happy and proud. We are united as one with the Turkish Cypriot people. We will celebrate the cups together “.

Zafer Kalaycıoğlu made 11 in 11 …
Near East University Women’s Basketball Team Head Coach Zafer Kalaycıoğlu also succeeded in the 11th final. Previously winning 6 of Turkey cups with Fenerbahce and 3 with Galatasaray, Kalaycıoğlu printed his name on a cup in his 33rd match once more.

Completing the Turkey Women’s Basketball League and Group B of FIBA Euroleauge as a leader with Kalaycıoğlu, won the 5th Cup including the EuroCup, Turkey League Championship, the 25th President’s Cup.