Résidence Walferdange opened its W-Nationale 2 qualifying round with a 78-55 road win at BBC East Side Pirates and moved to 1st place at 1-0, while BEP is 7th at 0-1.
The visitors set the first rhythm. After Lea Christmann gave BEP an early 2-0 lead, RES answered through Melissa Genoud and Jalila R'Biaa, then built a 14-7 edge by mid-first quarter. BEP stayed in touch behind captain Nina Schmit (32, LUX), who scored 15 points in the first half, including three 3-pointers, but RES still led 22-15 after one.
The second quarter brought BEP's best phase. RES briefly pushed to 29-16, yet Jeff Steinmetz's team reacted well: Schmit, Samantha Lizardo (35, LUX) and Jenny Ferring trimmed the gap to 31-35 and later 33-35. At that stage the game was very much alive. Diogo Jesus Lopes' side, however, steadied itself before the break through Laetitia Soares (29, FRA), taking a 41-35 advantage into halftime.
The decisive stretch came in the third. BEP cut it to 40-45 after a Lizardo three, but RES responded with an 8-0 run, largely driven by Soares, who scored repeatedly inside and from the foul line. That turned the margin to 53-40 and changed the pace of the game.
BEP was still within 50-62 in the fourth, but RES then produced the key 16-0 run for its highest lead at 78-50. Palma (23, 1.70m, FRA), R'Biaa (32, LUX), Boudler (18, LUX) and Geelen (21, 1.64m, BEL) all scored in that burst.
Top scorers were Soares with 22, Schmit with 21 and Lizardo with 17. RES had more interior production, 28 made 2-pointers against 16 for BEP. Schmit's late foul-out also mattered after she carried much of the home offense.
(AI generated)
BBC East Side Pirates