Turkish women’s basketball team qualifies for EuroBasket 2025 with unbeaten record
The Turkish women’s basketball team celebrates their victory over Slovakia, securing their EuroBasket 2025 spot, Ljubljana, November 10, 2024. (Photo via Turkish Basketball Federation)
The Turkish women’s basketball team has officially qualified for the FIBA EuroBasket 2025, earning a decisive 65-50 victory over Slovakia on Nov. 10 in Bratislava’s GOPASS Arena.
Türkiye’s win, achieved in their fourth Group F match, secured their place at the European championship as they completed the group stage undefeated.
Türkiye opens with a strong start against Slovakia, establishing control early in the game
The Turkish women’s basketball team began the game with a lineup featuring Olcay Cakir Turgut, Sevgi Uzun, Sinem Atas, Tilbe Senyurek and Teaira McCowan and quickly asserted dominance on the court.
The team built a solid defense that held Slovakia to just nine points in the first quarter while scoring 19 points themselves.
Early in the game, the Turkish women’s basketball team’s defense kept Slovakia on the back foot, with McCowan and Senyurek consistently breaking through to score and secure rebounds.
Head coach Ceyhun Yildizoglu noted the team’s strong preparation and team cohesion, saying, “We came here with a clear plan, and the players executed it with focus and determination.”
By halftime, Türkiye was well ahead, leading 32-18 as McCowan controlled the court with her scoring and defensive play.
Slovakia attempts comeback but Türkiye maintains lead
In the third quarter, Slovakia made a brief attempt to close the gap, bringing Türkiye’s lead down to eight points. Michaela Mikulasikova scored for Slovakia to make it 36-28, but Türkiye quickly responded.
McCowan continued her solid performance in the paint, preventing Slovakia from gaining further ground. Türkiye closed the quarter with a comfortable 51-38 lead, keeping the pressure on their opponents.
The national team kept its focus on the face of Slovakia’s increased defense in the last minutes. Despite the home crowd’s encouragement for Slovakia, Türkiye did not let the lead slip. Their consistent performance brought them to a strong finish at 65-50.
| Quarter | Score (Türkiye – Slovakia) |
|---|---|
| 1st Quarter | 19 – 9 |
| 2nd Quarter (Halftime) | 32 – 18 |
| 3rd Quarter | 51 – 38 |
| Final Score | 65 – 50 |
McCowan, Onar lead Turkish basketball match with outstanding performances
Teaira McCowan led Türkiye’s scoreline to 24 points and 13 rebounds, dominating both offensively and defensively. Alperi Onar added 12 points and three assists, contributing to the team’s steady play throughout the game.
Sevgi Uzun rounded out the leaders with five points, five assists, and three rebounds, showing skill on both sides of the court. Slovakia’s top scorer, Miroslava Mistinova, recorded 11 points.
Turkish women’s basketball team members’ performance
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teaira McCowan | 24 | 13 | – | 29:34 |
| Alperi Onar | 12 | – | 3 | 30:46 |
| Olcay Cakir Turgut | 8 | – | 2 | 18:13 |
| Tilbe Senyurek | 8 | 12 | – | 32:14 |
| Sinem Atas | 6 | 2 | 1 | 17:33 |
| Sevgi Uzun | 5 | 3 | 5 | 24:38 |
| Meltem Yildizhan | 2 | 6 | – | 16:08 |
| Elif Bayram | – | 5 | – | 15:12 |
| Ayse Cora | – | – | 1 | 06:19 |
| Derin Erdogan | – | – | – | 02:52 |
| Goksen Fitik | – | – | – | 03:32 |
| Zeynep Gul | – | – | – | 03:00 |
Following their undefeated run in the group stage, Türkiye now heads confidently into EuroBasket 2025. With four consecutive wins, they have secured first place in Group F, ensuring a spot in the prestigious tournament.
