Basket Landes Nearly Pulls Off Upset but Galatasarays’ Juhasz is too much in EuroLeague Thriller
Basket Landes vs Galatasaray Womens Euroleague 2026
Credit EuroLeague
What a night in Istanbul! Basket Landes came within seconds of pulling off a monumental upset against Galatasaray, one of the EuroLeague’s title favorites. After trailing by 19 points in the third quarter, the French champions mounted an incredible comeback that forced overtime before ultimately falling 81-72 in the first leg of their playoff semifinal.
The Landaises started brightly, taking an early 7-2 lead and staying competitive through the opening quarter. However, their 3-point shooting abandoned them early, managing just 1-of-15 attempts from beyond the arc after 25 minutes of play. Galatasaray gradually found their rhythm, with Hungarian center Dorka Juhasz dominating inside with spectacular shots to help the hosts take a 31-23 advantage.
The Great Comeback That Almost Was
The situation looked desperate when Galatasaray extended their lead to 19 points early in the third quarter (53-34). The Turkish side was firing on all cylinders, with Marine Johannès orchestrating the offense and Juhasz controlling both ends of the floor with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
But Basket Landes showed why they’re French champions. Led by Murjanatu Musa, who had 10 points at halftime and finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds, they began their improbable comeback. Leïla Lacan, the January MVP, then took over in the final quarter, scoring 7 consecutive points to bring the deficit down to just three (59-56) with 1:38 remaining.
The final seconds were pure theater. With three seconds left and trailing 66-63, Basket Landes executed a perfect inbound play that found Marie Pardon at the 3-point line. Her shot from well beyond the arc found nothing but net, forcing overtime at 66-66 and sending the small contingent of French fans into delirium.
Unfortunately for the visitors, the magic couldn’t continue in the extra period. Galatasaray‘s experience showed as they outscored Basket Landes 15-6 in overtime, with Awak Kuier providing crucial interior defense with two blocks. The final score of 81-72 gives Galatasaray the advantage heading into the second leg.
Despite the defeat, Basket Landes proved they belong on this stage. With Lacan and Musa both recording double-doubles (Lacan had 21 points and 9 rebounds), they showed they can compete with Europe’s elite. The series now shifts to Mont-de-Marsan on Wednesday, February 25th, where the French champions will need a victory to force a decisive third game. After this performance, Galatasaray has been warned – they’ll face a wounded and dangerous opponent on French soil.
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