UMMC Ekaterinburg sent an early warning to their Euroleague Final Eight opponents as they hammered fellow Russian side Nadezhda Orenburg 80-47 in Group B.
Trailing 17-16, the current Euroleague Women champions raced away with a 12-0 in the second to put the game beyond Orenburg and a dominant fourth quarter showing was the icing on the cake.
USA international Diana Tuarasi led Ekaterinburg with 17 points, as she hit her first five shots from three-point land, en route to her final tally.
Dewanna Bonner led Orenburg with 16 points.
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A game-changing fourth quarter showing from USK Prague was enough to stun Tango Bourges 56-51 in the other Group B encounter.
With Bourges seemingly in control and with all the confidence heading into the final quarter, they were rushed in their offence, allowing the Czechs to capitalise and steal a victory on the opening day.
Kia Vaughn secured a double-double to lead Prague as she amassed 18 points and 15 rebounds.
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In the first of what will be many all-Turkish clashes in Group A, Fenerbahce edged rivals Kayseri Kaski Spor 64-58.
A double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds from Angel McCoughtry got the job done for Fenerbahce as they extend their unbeaten run in European action to 15 games.
Nuria Martinez replied with a game-high 19 points for Kayseri, but it counted for nothing.
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Despite a spirited comeback, Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje’s first quarter showing let them down as they lost 68-61 to Galatasaray.
Spaniard Sancho Lyttle proved her big game presence as she scored 18 points to lead the Turks to victory as they led by double digits after the first exchanges but were made to work hard from there.
Sonja Petrovic had 15 to lead Sparta.
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