Racing Luxembourg booked a place in the Coupe FLBB final with a controlled 59-44 semifinal win over Black Frogs Schieren at tramsschapp/central. Racing set the tone early at 6-0 as Olivia Hoffmann finished twice inside after Jil Schmit's opener. The hosts took the first period 24-15, then broke the game in the second quarter with a 13-0 surge from 24-20 to 37-20 at halftime. In that run, Jil Mathis drilled a three, captain MarieLou Haentges scored backtoback baskets, and Hoffmann added power plays in the paint. The largest gap came just after the break at 39-20.
Black Frogs had their best response to start the fourth, trimming to 46-35 behind Marie Palma and Elisa Thill, but each push met a Racing answer most often Hoffmann on the block and Estelle Sand from the wing and stripe. Palma hit from the line repeatedly, while Melissa Pelladeau pieced together a string of free throws across the first and third quarters to keep FRO ticking.
Top performers for Racing: Sand (28 years, 1.82m) led with 18 points, including two threes and late free throws that steadied the finish; Hoffmann (29, 1.85m) added 17 and punctuated the fourth with three more field goals and a free throw; Mathis scored 8 with timely threes in Q2 and Q3. Haentges had 10 and was central to the decisive secondquarter run before fouling out in the fourth after early foul trouble.
For Schieren, Sonia El Hammiri scored 12, capped by a late three; Palma (22, France) had 10 and drew contact all night; Lena Ehmann added 6, and Eve Weber 5 with a firsthalf triple. Coach Wojciech Daniel Kubis's side managed the tempo and protected their lead after the break, while Diogo Jesus Lopes's timeouts could not halt Racing's secondquarter momentum swing. The second period (13-5) and the 13-0 run were the game's turning points.
(AI generated)
Racing Luxembourg