Second-ranked BC Mess were edged 59-56 at home by Etzella Ettelbruck in a close W-Nationale 2 qualifier, with the visitors moving up four places to 6th after their second straight win.
The game stayed tight almost throughout. Etzella took the first quarter 14-11, with Lakin Roland (33, USA) setting the tone early by scoring the visitors' first 6 points. Mess reacted well and, after Etzella had opened a 24-17 margin in the second period, the home side answered with a 7-0 run to tie at 24-24. BC Mess then went into halftime in front, 30-29, thanks to balanced scoring and good interior production from Jil Heck (Season PPG: 13.8).
The third quarter shifted momentum. From 34-33, Etzella put together a strong stretch, with Roland scoring 9 points in a row during a run that helped create a 47-40 lead after three periods. That phase was the key offensive burst of the night.
In the fourth, Joao Carlos Santiago Janeiro's team fought back again. Mess cut the gap to 43-47, but Etzella answered and reached the game's highest lead at 55-45. The hosts still found one more push: Yara Heilbronn (MES) and Heck helped bring it back to 56-57, and Heilbronn's late three-pointer made it a one-possession finish. In that decisive moment, Roland made the last 2 free throws for Etzella, securing the 59-56 win.
Roland finished with 23 points and made the biggest difference for Etzella, with support from Amina Kocan (ETZ) and Léa Gomes (ETZ), both on 8, and Crismeily Helena (ETZ) with 7. For Mess, Heck led with 20 points, Noémie Schammo (Season PPG: 9.4) added 12, while Lynn Thilges (Season PPG: 9.0) and Hannah Pauly (MES) scored 8 each.
(AI generated)
BC Mess