AB Contern, 3rd in the 2nd Round standings, controlled most of this 78-61 home win over 7th-placed Les Sangliers Wooltz and completed a 3-0 season sweep of the matchup.
The game was not one-way from the start. Contern opened 5-0, but Wooltz answered with 9 straight points to move ahead 9-5, led by Lisy Hetting and Emma Marie Broermann. Fabienne Fuger's team reacted well, closing the first quarter 20-15. In the second, Contern created a first cushion at 26-16, yet Wooltz stayed in contact and trimmed the gap to 35-29 at halftime.
The decisive stretch came after the break. With the score at 39-36, Contern produced a 10-0 run to 49-36, then kept the pressure on through Ana Petrova's four threes and strong inside finishing from Stefanie Grace Kulesza (Season PPG: 21.35, RPG: 10.71, AssPG: 2.82), who earned MVP honors with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 3 steals. Her 9/11 from 2-point range was excellent. Captain Esmeralda Skrijelj (Season PPG: 10.82, RPG: 10.06, AssPG: 10.35) added 14 points and 10 assists, while Caileigh Ann Walsh (Season PPG: 24.94, RPG: 8.53, AssPG: 2.41) scored 21 points, including an excellent 10/10 at the line.
Wooltz tried again early in the fourth, opening with a 9-0 run to cut 66-48 to 66-57, but Contern answered immediately and pushed the lead to its game-high 19 points at 78-59.
Contern's collective edge showed in the numbers: 23 assists to 13, only 11 turnovers, and an excellent 92% on free throws (12/13). For Wooltz, Lisy Hetting (Season PPG: 15.00, RPG: 6.70, AssPG: 1.70) led with 20 points, while the 25-year-old 1.92m USA center Broermann posted 15 points and 15 rebounds despite 4 fouls. Lara Graglia added 12 points. Wooltz is now on a nine-game losing streak.
(AI generated)