Kordall Steelers won a close one in Beggen, 48-45, after controlling long stretches and then surviving a late push from Zesummen Aktiv.
Julie Secco's side started better. KDS opened on an 8-0 run through Ingrid Bayart, Wendy Luna Silva da Rocha and Alessia Nouemsi, and after ZAK cut the gap to 6-8, the visitors still closed the first quarter ahead 12-6. The second period was another strong KDS sequence: from 6-12 they pushed to 6-21, building clear momentum before taking a 29-17 lead into halftime.
Bayart (Season PPG: 11.00) was the main scorer with 18 points. Nouemsi (Season PPG: 9.46) added 14, and Silva da Rocha (17, PRT) scored 12, including both KDS three-pointers. KDS reached its highest lead at 36-21 in the third quarter.
Francine Muller-Malherbe's ZAK reacted well after the break. Helena Meyer led the response and finished with 14 points, matching her season maximum. Sophie Grivet (Season PPG: 5.00) contributed 9, while Lisa Martins added 6. Around the end of the third quarter, ZAK produced a 10-2 run and cut the score to 31-38.
The key moment came in the fourth. ZAK had reduced the gap to 37-42, but KDS answered with six straight points, four from Nouemsi, to move to 48-37. ZAK still made the finish tight with an 8-0 run through Anne Kipgen, Meyer and Laurence Kirchen, but Kordall remained the game winner in the closing moments. No free throws were scored by either team.
In the new classification, ZAK are 4th (+1) and KDS 6th (+2).
(AI generated)