2026 World Cup: Puerto Rico Overcomes Turkiye With Late Surge, Wins 75-71

Puerto Rico closed the game on a decisive 14-5 run over the final 4:25 to escape with a 75-71 win over Turkiye on September 7 at Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin, a Group Phase result at the FIBA Women's World Cup that lived up to its billing as a wire-to-wire battle. Turkiye had led for most of the night, including through all three opening quarters, but could not hold on once Puerto Rico found its rhythm in the fourth. The game changed hands 10 times and was tied for nearly two minutes of game action, a reflection of just how evenly matched the two sides were.
McGee-Stafford Imani (201-C-1994, college: Texas) was the difference in the paint, finishing with a monster double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds to go with an assist and a block across a team-high 36:40, her 23 efficiency rating tying for the best mark of the game. Arella Guirantes (181-SG-1997, college: Rutgers) was every bit as important at the other end of the floor, scoring 21 points with 6 rebounds and 5 assists in 34 minutes while posting a team-leading plus-8, and Trinity San Antonio (180-G-2003, college: GCU) was nearly automatic, going 9 of 13 from the field for 18 points with 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and a block. Sevgi Uzun carried Turkiye's offense with 18 points, 6 rebounds and a game-high 8 assists, but she had little help down the stretch.
The turning point arrived with 7:35 remaining, when Esra Ural-Topuz (198-C-1991)'s layup put Turkiye back in front 60-59 after Puerto Rico had briefly grabbed the lead - the last time Turkiye would lead all night. Puerto Rico answered immediately with an 8-0 run through 3:28 remaining, making four field goals without a single turnover while Turkiye managed just one basket and two costly giveaways, building a 67-60 cushion it would not relinquish.
Puerto Rico's other big surge came earlier in the fourth quarter, an 8-0 run from 9:44 to 8:23 sparked by six points from Pamela Rosado (165-PG-1986) that erased a 51-58 deficit and put Puerto Rico ahead 59-58. Turkiye's best stretch had come late in the second quarter, a 7-0 run from 5:20 to 2:34 fueled by Elif Bayram (181-F-2001) (4 points, 3 rebounds) and Tilbe Senyurek (190-C-1995) (3 points) that turned a one-point edge into a 35-29 lead. Turkiye also produced the night's largest margin, 8 points, on two separate occasions in the third quarter, but Puerto Rico's finishing kick proved the difference.