Second-placed BC Mess answered well after a loss and beat fifth-placed US Heffingen 53-38 in the W-Nationale 2 qualification round. The game changed completely after a difficult opening for the home side.
Heffingen were sharper in the first quarter and led 16-7, with Jackie Schuler (HEF) and Maya Cambiotti (HEF) setting the tone early for coach Matias Nicolas Carol Lugones' team. Mess struggled to score at first and trailed by 9 after ten minutes.
The key swing came in the second quarter. From 7-16, coach Joao Carlos Santiago Janeiro's side produced a 14-1 run to move in front 21-17. Kim Sowa (MES) was at the center of that stretch with 8 straight points, while Lynn Thilges (28, 1.74m) and Jenny Hellers (MES) helped turn the pace. Heffingen stayed composed and closed the half with a 4-0 reply, tying the game at 21-21.
The third quarter remained competitive. Mess created separation at 33-25, but Cambiotti hit back-to-back three-pointers to bring Heffingen back to 33-31. Thilges answered with a timely three late in the period for a 36-31 lead.
The decisive phase came in the fourth. After Heffingen cut it to 39-33, Mess responded with a 12-2 push to 51-35, their highest lead of the evening. Sowa finished with 23 points, including five three-pointers, despite four fouls. Thilges added 12, Jil Heck (28, 1.81m) scored 9, and Noémie Schammo (MES) had 7. For Heffingen, Schuler scored 15, Cambiotti added 12, and Anne Moecher (42, 1.68m) contributed 3.
(AI generated)