T71 Dudelange controlled Basket Esch 82-60 at grimler/central, extending their perfect start to 10-0 and reinforcing first place. The tone was set early: a 27-14 first quarter behind Svenia Nurenberg (Season PPG: 12.5, RPG: 5.6, AssPG: 2.2) who struck a quick 3 and four straight free throws, and Catherine Mreches (Season PPG: 17.0, RPG: 5.1, AssPG: 2.9) closing the period with back-to-back triples. T71 led 47-33 at halftime and never looked back.
Esch's best spell came after the break through Tatsiana Likhtarovich (Season PPG: 19.0, RPG: 4.8, AssPG: 5.1) and Jovana Jaksic (Season PPG: 24.22, RPG: 8.0, AssPG: 2.1), trimming slightly to 61-45 after three. But a decisive 12-0 T71 run in the fourth quarter stretched the gap from 67-52 to 79-52, their largest lead at +27, and settled it. An unsportsmanlike foul on Bruna Fonseca occurred in the third as the game heated up.
T71's balance and ball movement stood out: 25 assists on 32 made field goals. Shalonda Winton (Season PPG: 19.1, RPG: 9.6, AssPG: 4.1) earned MVP with 13 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists, flirting with a triple-double, while Lauren Van Kleunen (Season PPG: 21.44, RPG: 7.33, AssPG: 1.22) added 19 and anchored the interior. The local core contributed timely shooting and defense, with Mreches (15) and Nurenberg (16) impactful.
Esch shot an excellent 91.7% at the line (11/12) but struggled from the field: 44% on 2s and 1/21 from deep (4.8%). Likhtarovich led with 20 (6/6 FT) plus 6 rebounds and 6 assists; Jaksic had 17 and 6 rebounds; Kyra Coulon chipped in 11. Esch did grab 10 offensive boards, yet T71's 34 defensive rebounds and efficiency inside (56% on 2s) under coach Mathieu Fivet proved decisive. Coach Vincent Gevrey's side remains fifth (4-5), while T71 stays clear at the top.
(AI generated)