Laksa Leads Schio Past Galatasaray in Istanbul
Beretta Famila Schio opened its EuroLeague Women season by beating last season's runner-up on its own floor, winning 84-66 at Galatasaray Çağdaş Faktoring in Istanbul on Thursday. Kitija Laksa led the Italian side's attack with 18 points in her first game of the season, and her burst at the end of the third quarter turned a close game into a comfortable one.
Galatasaray had erased most of an eight-point halftime deficit with a 13-3 run out of the break, cutting Schio's lead to 51-50. Laksa answered with nine straight points, and Schio carried a 65-55 lead into the fourth quarter. From there the visitors pulled away, stretching the margin to 20 late before settling for 18.
The game was decided by the ball as much as by Laksa. Galatasaray committed 22 turnovers to Schio's 14, and Schio came away with 14 steals, three each from Maria Conde and Olbis Futo Andrè. The rebounding was dead even at 31 apiece, but Schio shot 9 of 19 from three while Galatasaray made only 2 of 14. Schio also moved the ball better, finishing with 26 assists to Galatasaray's 21, with seven each from Carlotta Zanardi and Costanza Verona.