AB Contern won a close game against Musel Pikes, 87-82, and moved to 3-0 in the season series. Fabienne Fuger's team started well through the 1.91m American Caileigh Ann Walsh (Season PPG: 24.33, RPG: 8.8, AssPG: 2.5), who scored Contern's first 5 points. Musel answered with a 7-0 run, before Esmeralda Skrijelj (Season PPG: 10.78, RPG: 9.75, AssPG: 10.55) hit back-to-back threes to swing momentum again.
The first major break came in the second quarter. From 21-22, Contern built a 34-24 lead, their best margin of the night at +12. Walsh was effective inside and Skrijelj added free throws, but Marc Hahnemann's side reacted strongly and cut it to 39-38 by halftime.
The third quarter stayed volatile. Musel turned 44-38 into a 59-55 lead, with 26-year-old Canadian Mackenzie Caroline Farmer (Season PPG: 18.67, RPG: 8.35, AssPG: 2.96) and Alexis Pomaika'i Pana (Season PPG: 12.63, RPG: 6.38, AssPG: 3.31) driving the comeback. Contern answered with 8 straight points to close the period at 63-59.
Musel had another strong push in the fourth, going on a 7-0 run from 64-69 to 71-69, and later tying at 80-80. The finish belonged to Contern: Claire Lavandier (Season PPG: 3.72, RPG: 1.8, AssPG: 0.9) scored 4 key late points, while Stefanie Grace Kulesza (Season PPG: 20.83, RPG: 10.55, AssPG: 2.9) added the decisive baskets.
Contern's numbers were important: excellent 9/10 on free throws and good 16/36 from three. Skrijelj finished with 25 points and 10 assists, despite foul trouble and fouling out in the fourth. Walsh had 26 points, and Kulesza posted 13 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists.
For Musel, Farmer produced 27 points on excellent 7/7 free throws and good 10/16 on twos. Pana added 18 points, 11 rebounds and 5 steals, while Julie Nilles (Season PPG: 9.11, RPG: 4.44, AssPG: 1.37) scored 18. Musel also shot a good 10/23 from three.
(AI generated)