In 16th week of Turkish Women’s Basketball Super League (TWBSL), the Near East University Women's Basketball Team is playing an away match versus Beşiktaş at Beşiktaş Akatlar Arena at 16:00 on Sunday January 24, 2016.

According to the press release issued by the Press & Public Relations Directorate of Near East University, Erhan Ayaz, the general manager of the team, and the team players Hülya Özkan and Alyssa Thomas expressed their views regarding the match.

Erhan Ayaz: "We will begin to collect the fruit of the process of change"

Erhan Ayaz, General Manager of Near East Women's Basketball Team, evaluated the team's position in the league and Beşiktaş match. “We are a new team in TWBSL; this is our first year. At the beginning of the league, we set our goals and combated with all of our might in order to actualize our goals. Although we achieved satisfactory results at our first matches, we experienced losing streak due to some injuries and other various problems. In order to solve the problems and rise the performance and motivation of the team, we have developed some new strategies and initiated a process of change and transformation. Turkish Women’s Basketball Super League (TWBSL) is one of the most challenging leagues of the world. Each team is very assertive and has the capacity to beat the other. This week, we are having a tough match versus Beşiktaş. Beşiktaş is playing home. Playing a home match is always an advantage because of audience support. Audience support is one of the most important factors motivating players to fight. Beşiktaş is a tough opponent. We have prepared for the match very intensively. We are ready to achieve our first win in the second half” said he.

Hülya Özkan: “We want to start a winning streak”

Underlining that they prepared for Beşiktaş match very intensively, NEU Women’s Basketball Team player Hülya Özkan stated that they would combat to win the match. “We prepared for Beşiktaş match to achieve our first win in the second half and initiate a winning streak. I think it will be a high tempo match. As a team, we know that each match is like a final match for us. We will be on the court with this concentration and we will combat with all our might to win” said she.

Alyssa Thomas: “We are a good team. We want to achieve the results that we deserve”

Alyssa Thomas, NEU Women’s Basketball Team player and the second top rebounder of the league, expressed her views regarding the match. “We have prepared for Beşiktaş match with intensive practices. We are ambitious to initiate a winning streak by defeating Beşiktaş. We are a good team that composed of good players. We want to achieve the results that we deserve” said she.