Lyttle returns for Spain with a bang
SODERTALJE (EuroBasket Women 2017) - When former champions Spain were dethroned at EuroBasket Women 2015 earlier this year, the absence of Sancho Lyttle was cited as a major factor.
Now back on the scene, the veteran showed her class in a terrific EuroBasket Women 2017 qualifying success in Sweden.
The WNBA and EuroLeague Women forward who was MVP of EuroBasket Women two years ago, helped Spain make an opening statement of intent as they cut down their opponents 75-52 - with Lyttle accumulating a scintillating 24 points and 12 rebounds.
With Spain also eyeing up a place at the Rio Olympics next year, the return of Lyttle is well timed and it was an impressive display, considering they were without the injured Alba Torrens.
Turkey are also gearing up for the 2016 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament with new head coach Aziz Akkaya at the helm who watched on as Olcay Cakir waved the flag for the incoming generation by plundering 17 points in a flawless shooting performance that took down Israel, 72-53.
.@JeffreyNTaylor: @OlcayCakir4, Avrupa Basketbolunun 'Yeni nesil yıldızlarından' https://t.co/e79LZkFZxG (@FIBA'dan) pic.twitter.com/HFOA2zb6pS
— TBF (@TBForgtr) November 23, 2015
France also cruised to victory as a big crowd in Bourges cheered the home favourites on to a 69-41 win against Estonia as Endene Miyem racked up 22 points alongside the promising Aby Gaye, who won her first senior cap.
There was a real shock for Belarus who imploded in spectacular fashion in Poland, after finding themselves on the wrong end of a 65-56 defeat following an eye-watering 19-1 final quarter collapse. Justyna Zurowoska-Cegielska often keeps her best form for the national team and did so again with 20 points for the winning side.
There was more history for Serbia as the holders tipped off the defence of their recently gained maiden title in front of 6,500 fans who crammed into Pionir Hall in Belgrade. The supporters were rewarded with a 100-57 success against Germany as Jelena Milovanovic poured in 24 points and EuroBasket Women 2015 MVP Ana Dabovic picked up where she left off with 17 points and 6 assists.
If that was an impressive turnout, then the same can certainly be said of fans in Cluj as 5,000 supporters descended to watch Romania take a thrillin 67-65 triumph against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Gabriela Marginean leading the way with 22 points and Marica Gajic showing her quality in defeat with a huge double-double.
The other nail-biter came in the Baltic derby as Latvia came from behind to clinch a 65-62 win against error strewn Lithuania. The Latvians were also buoyed by the return of Zane Teilane and Elina Babkina to the mix.
One of the most eye-catching results came in Amsterdam where Netherlands shocked Croatia, 76-67. Despite the visitors seeing many of their stars return after injury, it was Remy De Wit and the hosts who excelled, as Zera Butter dropped a sparkling 23 points.
De Orange Angels zijn de kwalificatie voor het EK 2017 geweldig gestart in Sporthallen Zuid! https://t.co/MRKtqsp6ia pic.twitter.com/pNuw1pUS5V
— Topsport Amsterdam (@TopsportAdam) November 23, 2015
Indeed a glut of newly-appointed coaches celebrated opening wins, including Kostas Keramidas who helped Greece cut down Switzerland, 83-46, in front of a 3,000 fans, while an even bigger crowd of 4,000 supporters gave backing to Alexander Vasin and Russia who overran Bulgaria, 72-39, in Ekaterinburg as an array of rising stars stepped out to continue the Russian transition.
Meanwhile, Andrea Capobianco watched on contently as his entire Italian roster scored in a one-sided 121-38 victory against Albania and Volodymyr Kholopov admired his Ukraine side sail to a 90-38 win against Luxembourg in Kiev.
Snezana Aleksic caught fire late from three-point range for Montenegro as she converted a trio of triples to give her side a 78-64 success against Great Britain and elsewhere, there were home wins for Slovak Republic against Portugal and Hungary against Iceland.
Click here for full coverage of the EuroBasket Women 2017 Qualifiers.
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