Black Star Mersch B edged BBC East Side Pirates B, 65-61, in a tight return game in Mersch. The hosts controlled the first half with a clean start: after an early BEPB free throw, Mélanie Ladroye (Season PPG: 8.67) poured in seven straight points (3,2,2) for 7-1. A second-quarter 8-0 burst from 21-19 to 29-19, driven by Kina Thill (33), stretched the margin, and BSMB reached their largest lead at 33-22 before the break (38-29).
BEPB answered after halftime. Following a 6-0 BSMB spurt to 44-34, Nina Schmit (Season PPG: 16.8) hit five in a row (3+2) to keep the visitors in touch, and the gap was 50-44 after three. The fourth quarter turned on free throws and foul trouble. Carole Laplume (Season PPG: 18.43; 1.83 m) had kept BEPB afloat with 15, but she fouled out in the last period, a major blow to their late charge. Erik Daling's side repeatedly steadied the game from the line through Véronique Schmit (Season PPG: 9.17), who made seven free throws, including four in the closing minutes. Michèle Dustert's team still pressed: Schmit scored 10 in the fourth (2, 3, 2, 3), her final triple cutting it to 65-61, but BSMB held firm.
Top performers BSMB: Kina Thill 16, Ladroye 11, V. Schmit 9 (7 FTs), Dana Lisa Richartz (Season PPG: 13.71) 7; support came from Julie Schiel and Anna Mayer (30, DEU). For BEPB: N. Schmit 20, Laplume 15 (fouled out in Q4), Vanessa Rausch 10; Samantha Lizardo (Season PPG: 9.0) and Cathy Lang added 5 each.
Head-to-head this season now reads 2-2 (BEPB took both in the 1ier Tour; BSMB swept the 2e Tour). In the classification, BSMB remain first and BEPB second, both at 6-2 and tied on 14 points. Black Star are on a five-game winning streak.
(AI generated)