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.