Sparta Bertrange edged T71 Dudelange 64-61 in the LALUX Ladies Cup final at Coque/Gymnase in front of 2,000 spectators. T71 started sharper, jumping 11-6 and closing the first period +5. Mike Feyder's Sparta reversed the momentum in the second quarter with a 23-14 surge, fueled by perimeter shooting, to lead 35-31 at the break. After halftime, Jordan Alexis King (24, 1.81m, USA) caught fire from deep, drilling three triples in the third and pushing Sparta to 54-46 after 30 minutes. Her fourth three of the night in the fourth quarter built the largest gap at 63-51.
Mathieu Pierre Fivet's T71 answered with a 10-0 run in the closing minutes: Beatriz Ines Gomes Jordao (27, 1.91m, PRT) inside, Dana Wies (17, 1.77m) from three 2/2 from distance and Shalonda Renae Winton (34, 1.80m, USA) from deep to make it 61-63. King then split free throws for 64-61, and Sparta held on.
Sparta leaned on its internationals: King posted 22 points (5 threes), 6 assists and 5 rebounds despite low percentages (1/2 FT, 3/13 2P, 5/17 3P), and Adryana Michelle Quezada (24, 1.79m, USA) added 16 points on 8/15 inside. Among the local core, Lena Mersch (29, 1.73m) hit 3/5 from three (excellent), while Bridget Yoerger (38, 1.81m) contributed 7 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists.
T71 dominated the glass 51-44, led by a pair of double-doubles: Gomes Jordao had 12 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks (game-high MVP index 28), and Winton delivered 20 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Catherine Mreches (25, 1.65m) added 8 points, and Wies' perfect long-range cameo was timely.
Shooting was generally tough: Sparta 33% on twos (15/46) and 29% from three (10/35); T71 36% on twos (16/45) and 26% from three (6/23). T71 went 73% at the line (11/15) to Sparta's 67% (4/6), but Sparta's ball security (8 turnovers to 15) offset the rebounding deficit and proved decisive in a tight finish.
(AI generated)