Nitia Bettembourg won a close one against Rebound Préizerdaul, 65-60, and completed a three-game season sweep after earlier wins by 59-31 and 53-42. The result also lifted NIT two places to 5th in the Phase finale table, while PRE remained 8th.
The game turned quickly after PRE opened with a three from Cloé Bouille. Bettembourg answered well, and once the score reached 20-19, Hanna Wiejak (Season PPG: 11.50) put together 6 points in a row to create space. Coach Jérôme Defer's team reached 34-27 and spent the rest of the game protecting that margin.
Préizerdaul stayed in contact through the work of Bouille (Season PPG: 8.54) and Charlie Braun (Season PPG: 4.00). Bouille finished with 22 points, tying her season high, while Braun added 17, also a season best. PRE cut the gap several times in the second half, including 56-54 and later 58-54, so the winner was only decided in the final minutes.
Bettembourg's key response came from Wiejak, who finished with 26 points, and Lena Wies (Season PPG: 4.00), who scored 12 and was important in the fourth quarter with repeated interior baskets. Maëlle Schillings (Season PPG: 11.71) added 11, and Jordane Pyee (Season PPG: 9.08) had 10 before fouling out. The highest lead reached 9 points, at 48-39 and again at 65-56.
A useful early contribution also came from 14-year-old Romanian Ana Miruna Trasca for NIT. Bettembourg now has back-to-back wins, while PRE's difficult run continues.
(AI generated)