Amicale Steesel controlled Basket Esch 85-68 in Steinsel, building their win on a dominant middle stretch and cleaner backcourt play. After a balanced first quarter (19-15), the game swung in the second when Desiree Ramos (32, 1.70m, USA) caught fire: she scored Amicale's next 12 points on her own, mixing drives and two triples to push the gap to 41-27 at halftime. The hosts kept the pressure after the break, stretching the lead to 60-42 after three and peaking at +28 (78-50) in the fourth before Esch's late response.
Amicale's perimeter and discipline told the story: 11/29 from three (38%, good) and 8/9 at the line (89%) against just 9/29 from three (31%) for Esch. Despite being outrebounded 34-41, the hosts won the turnover battle 10-20 and amassed 17 steals to 6, fueling transition and a 20-9 assist edge.
Ramos (Season PPG: 22.0, RPG: 6.29, AssPG: 1.05) earned MVP with 27 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals and excellent 2-point shooting (8/11). Around her, Kathryn Jo Missavage (Season PPG: 8.33, RPG: 2.24, AssPG: 1.24) added 22 points with 4/8 from deep and 7 assists, while A'lexus Harrison (Season PPG: 13.75, RPG: 12.11, AssPG: 2.56) posted a double-double (13 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists). From the local core, Julie Mangen (Season PPG: 10.58, RPG: 3.44, AssPG: 1.06) chipped in 14 points, 7 boards and 5 steals, hitting 4/4 free throws.
For Esch, Eden Nibbelink (27, 1.80m) battled to a 26-point, 14-rebound double-double, including an excellent 4/6 from three, and Kyra Coulon struck late with 15 points (2-point shooting at an excellent 75%). Veteran wing Tatsiana Likhtarovich (BLR) added 15.
Coach Paul Missavage's side snapped a three-game skid and now sits 4th, with Esch 5th; the season head-to-head tilts 2-1 to Amicale. Esch's best spell came with an 8-0 fourth-quarter run (Coulon and Nibbelink from deep), but Amicale's earlier surge had already decided the rhythm and margin. Coach Vincent Gevrey's team couldn't overcome the turnover differential and Amicale's timely three-point shooting.
(AI generated)