T71 Dudelange won 86-61 at Basket Esch and, after the 79-72 win in the first semi-final, took the best-of-3 series 2-0 to qualify for the final. T71 is now on a seven-game winning run.
Basket Esch opened better. Vincent Gevrey's team led 17-11 late in the first quarter behind Eden Nibbelink (Season PPG: 13.95, RPG: 9.91, AssPG: 1.68) and Katia Jemming, but T71 closed the period on an 11-1 run to move 22-18 ahead. Esch tied it at 24-24 in the second, then Tom Schumacher's side answered with a 15-5 spell, helped by Mia Schroeder's three first-half triples and Svenia Nurenberg (Season PPG: 14.10, RPG: 5.35, AssPG: 2.09). Halftime was 45-37.
Esch was still within reach at 45-49 in the third quarter, with Nibbelink and Kyra Coulon scoring inside, but Lauren Van Kleunen (27, 1.88m, USA) and Shalonda Winton (34, 1.80m, USA) quickly restored control. T71 led 67-53 after three quarters. Esch later cut it to 61-72, then T71 finished on a 14-0 run for the game's highest lead, 25 points.
Van Kleunen was MVP with 31 points and 17 rebounds, with good shooting: 3/3 FT, 8/14 on 2-pointers, 4/9 from three. Winton added 17 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists for a triple-double. Nurenberg scored 12, Schroeder 9 on 3/6 from deep, and Beatriz Gomes Jordao (Season PPG: 10.68, RPG: 10.80, AssPG: 1.85) had 10 points.
For Esch, Nibbelink scored 22 on good efficiency, Jovana Jaksic added 11, Jemming 10, and Coulon 8.
Team shooting was decisive: T71 had excellent free-throw accuracy (10/11, 91%) and good percentages from 2-point range (23/40, 58%) and 3-point range (10/28, 36%). Esch finished at 5/10 FT, 22/46 on twos and 4/18 from three.
(AI generated)