BBC East Side Pirates edged Basket Esch B 62-54 in Esch/Ho1, controlling long stretches and withstanding a late push. The Pirates climb to 5th (+1) in W-Nationale 2, while Esch remain 11th. It's the third straight win for the Pirates.
Game evolution
- Q1: Nina Schmit (Season PPG: 8.86) set the tone with a 6-point personal burst (two straight threes) as BEP moved ahead 21-17.
- Q2: The turning point came early when an unsportsmanlike foul on Lisa Engel gave BEP momentum. They strung together a 9-0 run to break away to 34-19 and later stretched the gap to +18 (43-25) before halftime at 43-27.
- Q3: Coach Raouf Hatira's team responded at the line. Esch hit 10 unanswered points to close to 44-50, fueled by free throws (Esch finished with 18 made vs. Pirates' 6). Late baskets from Jennifer Ferring (Season PPG: 10.36) and Denise Kirsche (Season PPG: 11.07; 29, DEU) restored a double-digit cushion at 54-44.
- Q4: Lea Christmann (Season PPG: 11.17; 23, DEU) scored two early field goals to steady BEP. Schmit fouled out in the final period, but the Pirates managed the game to the horn.
Key players
- Pirates: Schmit led with 14 points on four triples; Ferring added 14 inside; Lynn Frank (Season PPG: 12.69; 1.76m, 39) was steady with 13 including five free throws; Kirsche contributed 11 and timely buckets; Christmann chipped in 6.
- Esch: Laure Valentin (18) paced the hosts with 13; Cynthia Dohn (Season PPG: 7.11) added 11; Engel (Season PPG: 5.00) had 7 and a first-half three; Ilaria Tuzze (Season PPG: 3.43) and Marcia Cristina Rocha Fernandes (17, PRT) scored 5 each.
Numbers snapshot
- BEP's balance came from 22 two-point field goals and Schmit's perimeter burst (four made threes).
- Esch lived at the stripe (18 made) and mounted their best run with a 10-0 surge late in the third.
Coach Stephane Roger Said's side led for most of the night and, in a single-digit game late, the Pirates were the winners thanks to interior scoring and timely answers after Esch's runs.
(AI generated)