ISTANBUL (EuroCup Women/EuroBasket Women 2015) - Rising star Artemis Spanou won't only be a centrepiece for Greece at EuroBasket Women 2015, but could also be on the path to EuroCup Women success.

The 22-year-old who posted a superb career at Robert Morris University in the NCAA, is currently in her first professional season and it is evolving into a potentially glorious one.

Spanou was one of the joyous Istanbul Universitesi players who contributed to the team progressing to the EuroCup Women's Quarter-Finals after registering a superb 68-62 victory at Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje to eliminate one of their rivals for the title.

Incredibly, Universitesi had found themselves down by as many as 22 points in the two-legged tie, but dug themselves out of trouble - much to the relief of Spanou.

"We listened to our coach and made sure we did what we know to do best," revealed the forward.

"Even when we were down at the beginning of the game, we still believed that we could win and qualify.

"That is why we stayed focused throughout the game.

"I am proud of my team-mates and I am sure that if we continue working as we have been working, then more good results will come."

The victory was founded on a spectacular double-double of 21 points and 19 rebounds from Courtney Paris, with the triumph setting up a mouth-watering Istanbul derby in the last eight against Besiktas JK.

Besiktas advanced with relative ease after 22 points from Jordan Hooper allowed them to record a comfortable 72-50 success against Peac Pecs to cement their place, having also won the first leg.

The most dramatic action came at Adana Botas, where Turkey women's national team head coach Ceyhun Yildizoglu masterminded his team overturning a 14-point deficit from their first meeting with Nantes Reze to advance.

They won regulation by the 14 points required, 78,64, to force overtime and finished the job by eventually riding out 90-69 winners - thanks mainly to another phenomenal effort by Lauren Ervin.

She collected an inspirational 24 points and nine rebounds, while also producing four massive blocked shots and none more important than during the last second of regulation.

Botas will tussle with unbeaten Villeneuve d'Ascq, who breezed past visiting Namur 85-54 as Megan Mahoney recorded an eye-catching 20 points, five rebounds and four assists.

The strength of Turkish clubs in this year's competition was further highlighted by Mersin Buyuksehir also making the last eight - despite falling to an 80-75 home court loss against Spartak Noginsk.

They were able to still coast into the Quarter Finals having prevailed by some 23 points in the first leg and they will now match-up against the irrepressible first time entrants Castors Braine.

The Belgian side are still unbeaten in the competition and retained their number one seeding after beating Flammes Carolo Basket 61-52, behind 23 points from Kim Mestdagh.

In stark contrast to the joy of Turkish clubs, there was despair for those flying the flag for Russia after Chevakata were beaten to a last eight spot by Maccabi Bnot Ashdod.

The Israeli side triumphed 60-50 as Allison Hightower and Shay Doron combined for scored 38 points to condemn Russian basketball to the unwanted situation of having no teams in the Quarter-Finals of EuroCup Women for the first time in over a decade.

Maccabi will face UE Sopron for a place in the Semi-Finals after the Hungarian side maintained their perfect record this season with an 81-76 victory against Udominate Basket, as WNBA star Kayla McBride exploded for 31 points.

FIBA