Galatasaray is too much for Basket Landes after a devastating 26-2 run, they are victorious 67-51
A hard-fought battle that comes up short for Basket Landes.
Photo credit: EuroLeague Women
The French side had drawn a tough assignment in this best-of-three play-in series against Galatasaray, with direct semifinal qualification on the line. After a narrow overtime loss in Game 1 and a five-point victory in Game 2, Basket Landes arrived in Turkey with confidence for the decisive third match.
The contest remained competitive for long stretches, with the visitors managing to stay in contention despite falling behind early. Even when Leïla Lacan, playing with a protective mask, suffered another facial injury that kept her off the court for extended minutes, Basket Landes continued to battle.
Defensive breakdown proves costly
However, the constant back-and-forth eventually took its toll on the French defense. Facing talented Turkish individuals like Marine Johannès, who contributed 12 points, Basket Landes began to lose their defensive organization. Poorly timed double-teams left shooters open, creating the perfect storm for disaster.
The breaking point came between the end of the second quarter and the beginning of the third, when Galatasaray unleashed a devastating 26-2 run. This crushing sequence opened up a 25-point deficit (54-29) and effectively ended any realistic comeback hopes for the visitors.
Weeeeeell what can I say 🤷♀️#EuroLeagueWomen x @KadinBasketGS pic.twitter.com/3UJZFSmPKN
— EuroLeague Women (@EuroLeagueWomen) March 3, 2026
Despite the demoralizing run, Julie Barennes’ players, competing without their head coach who did not make the trip, showed character by continuing to fight. However, the damage was too severe to overcome. Playing in front of Gabby Williams, who attended as a spectator to watch several of her French national team teammates, Basket Landes ultimately fell 67-51.
The defeat exposed significant weaknesses in the paint, where they were thoroughly outrebounded 59-36. Galatasaray‘s Awak Kueir dominated with a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds. For the French side, Murjanatu Musa, who has been selected to the EuroLeague Team of the Month twice consecutively, delivered another strong performance with 15 points and 8 rebounds.
The 2-1 series loss means Basket Landes must now navigate the more difficult quarterfinal route. They will face Casademont Saragossa on Wednesday, April 15th, taking on the Spanish hosts featuring French trio Leite-Gueye-Bankole. While the arena atmosphere promises to be hostile and packed, the visitors can count on support from their thousand fans who have already purchased tickets from Mont-de-Marsan. As the banners at Espace François-Mitterrand declare: « Impossible n’est pas Basket Landes. »
Comments (0)