Eurocup 5/2008 - Tarbes 56, Extrugasa 51

If home is where the heart is, then Extrugasa (2-3) had to find the heart to secure a place in the second round of Eurocup around against Tarbes (5-0), undefeated both in Eurocup and French league play and 1-0 against Extrugasa, having defeated them 83-52 in France. Extrugasa had heart and attempted a comeback, but they once against fell short to Tarbes,

The boxscore will be posted when we have it.

Tarbes started the first quarter with a 13-3 run, with Isabelle Yacoubou-Dehou picking up six first quarter rebounds for Tarbes and Ndeye Ndiaye scoring seven first quarter points. Tanisha Wright finished the first quarter with a three-pointer to put Tarbes up 21-9 after 10 minutes. Extrugasa fought back in the second quarter, closing the gap to 25-23 with 4:46 left before Tarbes went on a 9-0 run to close out the quarter. In the first half, Tarbes shot 46 percent to Extrugasa's measly 25 percent.

Extrugasa battled back in the fourth quarter, closing to one point, 40-39, with 2:53 to go. However, Tarbes would score the next eight points in the game. Once again, Extrugasa battled back, closing to 54-50 with 37 seconds left, but Frida Eldebrink scored two free throws to put the game out of reach.

By the end of the game, Extrugasa would still be shooting 28 percent. What pulled them to within five points of undefeated Tarbes? Turnovers and free throws. Tarbes turned the ball over 23 times and what was worse, allowed Extrugasa to go to the line 19 times where they hit 17 shots. The outcome could have been much worse for Extrugasa; the game highlights the importance of good free throw shooting.

Tamera Young scored a double-double for home team Extrugasa against undefeated Tarbes - 12 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists. Katia da Silva had 11 points and eight rebounds, and Jaklin Zlatanova added 12 points. Mandisa Stevenson did not play.

As for Tarbes, Isabelle Yacoubou-Dehoui led all scorers with 14 points and 12 rebounds - eight of those rebounds in the first half. Ndeye Ndiaye scored 12 points. Tanisha Wright, a guard for the Seattle Storm playing for Tarbes, had nine points and four turnovers but also five assists.

This is the next to last game for teams in Group J in Eurocup. Tarbes has already secured its place in the second round of Eurocup. We'll have a better idea of what Extrugasa needs to do to go to the second round after the Ribera-Olivais game concludes.