BBC East Side Pirates edged Black Star Mersch 47-40 in Wasserbillig, grinding out a low-scoring W-Nationale 2 qualifier and avenging October's heavy 27-79 loss.
After Sara Dumont opened for Black Star, the Pirates settled through captain Nina Schmit and Julia Reuland. The game's hinge arrived midway through the second quarter: from 11-9, Lynn Frank (Season PPG: 12.27) authored a personal 6-0 burst, then Jennifer Ferring (Season PPG: 10.63) added back-to-back baskets for a 10-0 team run to 21-9. Catherine Max and Jessie Kettel answered to close the gap to 26-21 at halftime.
The visitors kept pressing after the break Jo Kettel hit from deep for 29-25 and Dana Richartz (Season PPG: 3.57) added a three to 36-30 but Pirates repeatedly found timely replies via Ferring and Zoé Dock. The decisive sequence came late in the third: Denise Kirsche (29, DEU) scored on consecutive possessions to stretch the lead to 47-36. Max responded with four points to 47-40, yet the margin froze there down the stretch. In a close game, Kirsche's back-to-back baskets and Ferring's steady scoring proved the game winners.
Pirates leaders: Ferring 11, Frank 9 (a driving force of the second-quarter surge), Kirsche 8, Samantha Lizardo 7, Schmit 4. Black Star leaders: Max (Season PPG: 13.08) produced 16 and kept Mersch in range; Jessie Kettel (Season PPG: 6.07) added 10; Richartz 7. Dumont (1.80m) fought foul trouble (4 PF) and finished with 2, while Anna Mayer (30, DEU) contributed 2.
Under coach Edona Ademi, the Pirates are on a six-game winning run and rise to 3rd (+2). Lance Channing Legister's Black Star slips to 4th (-1) but remains in the leading pack.
(AI generated)