AB Contern edged Musel Pikes 87-82 in the 2e Tour opener at Contern/Central, sealing it with a late 7-2 finish after the game was tied 80-80.
Contern jumped out behind early perimeter fire: Caileigh Ann Walsh (Season PPG: 23.2, RPG: 9.0, AssPG: 2.2; 23, 1.91m, USA) hit 5 quick points and Esmeralda Skrijelj (Season PPG: 11.5, RPG: 9.2, AssPG: 10.2) buried back-to-back threes for 11-7. A second-quarter surge built the hosts' largest lead at 34-24, highlighted by three straight free throws from Skrijelj and consistent finishing from Walsh. Musel responded through Alexis Pomaikai Pana (Season PPG: 12.6, RPG: 6.7, AssPG: 3.6) and a Lilli Fischer layup to close to 39-38 at halftime.
The third quarter swung both ways: after Contern moved to 52-48 on a Skrijelj triple, Musel strung a 4-0 to 55-59 via Mackenzie Caroline Farmer (Season PPG: 17.9, RPG: 8.3, AssPG: 3.2; 26, 1.88m, CAN) and Alexandra Weber. Contern answered with a Claire Lavandier (Season PPG: 4.0, RPG: 1.6, AssPG: 0.9) three and a Walsh triple to lead 61-59 entering the fourth.
Skrijelj (25 pts, 6/10 3P, 5/5 FT) scored six in a row early in Q4 but later fouled out after a technical, opening a window Musel exploited as Julie Nilles (Season PPG: 10.2, RPG: 4.2, AssPG: 1.6) tied it 80-80 from deep. Contern's frontcourt closed it: Lavandier hit two timely inside buckets, Stefanie Grace Kulesza (Season PPG: 21.9, RPG: 10.6, AssPG: 2.9) added a dagger and Walsh finished at the line.
Key numbers favored Contern: +9 on the glass (40-31), 27 assists to 15, excellent 90% at the line and good 44% from three. Musel shot well too (80% FT, 43% 3P). Top locals for Contern were Skrijelj and Lavandier; the overseas trio Walsh (26 pts, 9 reb), Kulesza (13 pts, 11 reb, 7 ast) and Ana Petrova (11 pts, 3/8 3P, BGR) shaped the win. For Musel, Farmer (27 pts, 7/7 FT) and Pana (18 pts, 11 reb, 4 ast) led the visitors, with Weber adding 11 on 3/4 from three. Pana topped the game's efficiency chart.
It's Contern's fourth straight win and a third head-to-head victory over Musel this season. Coach Fabienne Fuger's side controlled the end-game, while Marc Hahnemann's team showed improved resistance compared to previous meetings.
(AI generated)