The Women's Euroleague Final Four match at Ülker Sports Arena in Istanbul witnessed an extraordinary third place game on Sunday as Turkish team Fenerbahçe beat the Czech ZVVZ USK Praha 73-69, grabbing the bronze medal in the competition.
After a promising first quarter, ZVVZ USK Praha held an early lead over Fenerbahçe with 24-18 but neither team showed any signs of giving up.
Host Fenerbahçe took over the lead 27-26 with 6:18 minutes still to go.
ZVVZ USK Praha, the defending EuroLeague champs were still trailing behind by 3 points at 37-34 when the second period's whistle blew.
Prague's Kia Vaughin and Karolina Elhotova put the team ahead 45-43 in the beginning of the 3rd period. USK made a real push in the third quarter, winning it 49-50.
Birsel and Quigley put Fenerbahçe in lead 64-61 but the game was tied at 64 with 3:22 minutes to go.
Fenerbahçe's last minute presses put the final score at 73-69, securing the bronze medal for the Turkish team.
Turkey is among the four nations scheduled to co-host the 2017 Eurobasket.
Turkey's success in women's basketball and other competitions in recent years has gone to show that the country's recent investments in women's sports are beginning to bear fruit and that Turkey's female athletes are excelling in new sports other than volleyball.
