After losing their first three games, the Turkish team Mersin ended their losing streak on Thursday in the EuroLeague. Thanks in large part to a very inspired performance from Julie Vanloo, who racked up 23 points, 6 assists, and 1 rebound.
After three consecutive defeats, Mersin finally recorded their first victory in the first round of the EuroLeague Women basketball competition. On Thursday, in the fourth of six Group D games, the Turkish team defeated the Italian team Venezia 83-69.
Mersin remains in last place in the group but is now just one win behind Zaragoza and Venezia, the second and third-placed teams. The top three teams from each group advance to the second round.
Like Julie Vanloo (23 points, 6 assists), who had gone two games scoreless, a transformed Mersin team took control against the Venetians in the second half. After trailing 34-38 at halftime, it was under the guidance of a radiant Vanloo that her teammates raised their game, finishing the second half dominated by her with a decisive 48-31 victory. Next week, Mersin will travel to face the group leaders, the French team Basket Landes, where another Belgian player, Becky Massey, also plays.
