#Wittels- Posted April 9, 2022 Posted April 9, 2022 The team from Salamanca, which touched the comeback after the verse 17 points down, falls in the semifinals of the women's Euroleague against Sopron of Brooks and Hatar (69-74) Perfumerías Avenida fell in the semifinals of the Final Four of the Women's Euroleague against the Hungarian Sopron (69-74) and spoiled their continental dream in Istanbul. The team from Salamanca, going against the current throughout the game, could not stretch their threshold of agony to lift a deficit that reached 17 points with 11 minutes to go. The reaction came late (64-68, m. 37) and the strength and lucidity weakened by the effort of the persecution. The 23 points from Kahleah Copper and the last outburst of pride from Silvia Domínguez and Maite Cazorla fell short against the display of Jelena Brooks (27 points and four rebounds in almost 36 minutes on the court) and the overwhelming solidity of Bernadett Hatar. The 2011 champions poster will not be replaced in the second consecutive attempt of the Avenida to be crowned again in Europe. The moving rearmament of the team from Salamanca to reach the Final Four was finally left without a prize. Sopron will play the title this Sunday against the hosts Fenerbahçe, who beat María Conde's USK Prague (11 points) after settling the dispute with a resounding 2-21 run between minutes 28 and 34. From 61-51 63-72 for the Turkish team that ended up winning 74-83. Avenida will therefore live together with USK Prague the torment of the match for third and fourth place in the Final Four. Between nervousness and lack of temper, the Perfumerías appeared off balance in Istanbul and entered a labyrinth. Unable to cover Hatar, the Hungarian tower of 2.08m, the players of the team from Salamanca lost the fight for the rebound and were confused in attack. Three turnovers and a 1 of 6 in field goals portrayed the initial imbalances of Perfumerías, which went further while Brooks (member of the Serbian team that knocked Spain off the podium in last summer's Eurobasket) and Williams joined the cause of Sopron (13-24, m. 11). Faced with difficulties, Kahleah Copper claimed stripes to straighten the Salamanca slate, but the step forward of the WNBA champion and Finals mvp with Chicago Sky was insufficient to alter a more solid and fluid rival. With the same assists as losses (3) and a 1 of 8 in triples at that point, Avenida embraced anxiety and got into a quagmire (20-36, m. 16). At that moment, an involuntary elbow by Hatar on Kahleah Copper in the struggle for a rebound left the American momentarily out of action, but it was assessed as an unsportsmanlike foul by the referees and Perfumerías took the opportunity to add a few stitches to the scoreboard. The Salamancan reaction did not end there either. Sopron, with an average of 66 points in the current Euroleague, reached 47 at halftime. Brooks (16 points in 18 minutes on court in the first half), Williams and Hatar propelled the Hungarian team forward against a troubled Avenida at the worst moment. The statistics reflected the ordeal of the Avenue in the first half. From 2 of 9 in triples for the team from Salamanca to 5 of 7 for their rival, also superior in rebounds (14-21), assists (5-13) and above all sensations (31-47, m. 20). Another test of resilience for a Perfumeries hardened by adversity. The challenge of a comeback that happened to hold, above all, Hatar and Brooks. But Emese Hof was charged with three fouls in the attempt to reach the Hungarian's arms and Karlie Samuelson paid for his physical inferiority against the Serbian. From 40-57, to 47-64 in the 29th minute. Just a character basket by Maite Cazorla and a two plus one by Katie Lou Samuelson prevented the early resolution. However, that small partial and three consecutive failures by Williams from the free throw encouraged Avenida's yes you can (52-64, m. 30). Bella Alarie's defense against Hatar and seven straight points from Kahleah Copper, the regular season mvp, settled the score even more (59-66, m. 34). And a monumental basket by Silvia Domínguez against Hatar herself (1.67m versus 2.08m) opened a new scenario (61-66). Sopron's fear of winning rivaled Avenida's resurrected determination and Copper's second three-pointer increased the tension and intrigue (64-68, m. 37). The Salamanca defense was concrete (only 27 points conceded in the second half; 10 in the last quarter) to contain their rival and cement the final charge. However, the effort of the chase weighed down the legs and head of Perfumerías, who paid for their lack of lucidity in the decisive moments. That is the extent of the continental dream of a team that is emotional in its resistance and proud in its defeat. Link: https://elpais.com/deportes/2022-04-08/el-perfumerias-avenida-malogra-su-sueno-europeo-en-estambul.html
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