One of Spartak Moscow Region’s best performances of the season came in their Euroleague victory over Galatasaray in Vidnoje, when they held the Turkish club’s stars (Seimone Augustus and Sylvia Fowles) in check defensively. Wednesday was the return game, as Spartak visited Istanbul, and Augustus and Fowles were ready. The result was tight basketball for 45 minutes before Galatasaray finally emerged with the 85-83 victory in overtime.

It was Lauren Jackson who preserved the tie by blocking a Galatasaray attempt just before the regulation buzzer.  She then made a three-pointer with four seconds left in OT to give Spartak a chance to tie or take the lead after former Storm guard Doneeka Hodges split two free throws. But there was too little time left and Epiphanny Prince turned the ball over before Spartak could get off a final attempt. Jackson scored 23 points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked four shots. She made four three-pointers. Prince added 17, but Galatasaray had three high scorers. Augustus, Fowles and Hodges – all of whom played at LSU under Spartak Head Coach Pokey Chatman – combined for 58 points and made 22 of their 43 shot attempts.

In Group D, Bourges Basket used home-court advantage to knock off Ros Casares Valencia 58-55 for Ros Casares’ second consecutive loss after a 5-0 start. Edwige Lawson – another of those former Storm backup point guards – put Ros Casares ahead with a three-pointer with 2:14 to play. However, Ros Casares would not score again. Back-to-back Endene Miyem scores gave Bourges the lead for good. Miyem led her team with 14 points. Lawson and Rebekkah Brunson had 15 apiece for Ros Casares, which is now tied for the group lead with Bourges. Jana Vesela contributed four points and three rebounds.

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