Young, Galatassaray ssettle for second

Vincentian basketballer Sophia Young, and her Turkish club Galatassaray, had to settle for second place in the Turkey Women’s Basketball League.{{more}}

Galatassaray lost 3-2 to Fenerbache in the best of five series. Both teams were locked 2-2, going into last Wednesday’s fifth and decisive fixture. Fenerbache triumphed 74 to 62, to clinch the title. It was an off night for Young, who only had 12 points. As it proved, Young had to be on song for her team to do well.

Galatassaray won game one, 92 to 88, with Young being the hot hand with 23 points and 9 assists. Fenerbache stormed back to win games two and three. It was 82-72 in game two, with Young sinking 16 baskets.

It was a close 74 to 73 win for Fenerbache in game four. Young this time scored 17 points. In game four which leveled the series and forced a fifth match, Young was in ripping form as she bucketed 25 points in her team’s 71 to 62 win.

This was Young’s second season in Europe. Last year she tried her hand in the Czech Republic but did not find favour with her team’s coach.

Young, this country’s second WNBA player, joined the US pro league in 2006, following a successful stint with Baylor University in the NCAA championships. Young attained several accolades while at Baylor.

In her final year in the NCAA , saw Young becoming the league’s all-time leader in scoring 2,480, rebounding 1,316, double-doubles, 61, and a rebounding average of 9.5. In addition, she is one of only four players who have tallied 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 300 steals and 300 assists in their NCAA Division I careers.

Drafted by the San Antonio Silver Stars as the fourth pick overall, Young’s record in her two seasons shows her turning out in 67 matches, with an average of 6.7 rebounds per match and a 14.3 points per match record.

Young returns to the Silver Stars in the Western Conference of the WNBA .

The 2008 WNBA season bounces off this Saturday May 17.(RT)