Nitia Bettembourg edged Kordall Steelers 46-45 in a very close W-U19 Division 3 Phase finale game and avenged the earlier 44-57 loss from Phase 2. The win moved NIT up to 5th place, a gain of two positions, while KDS remained 6th.
NIT opened better and led 10-4, but KDS answered with a 10-2 run to close the first quarter ahead 14-12. Micheline De Oliveira's side kept the momentum in the second period and reached 24-18. Bettembourg stayed in contact and reduced the gap to 24-23 by halftime.
KDS had its strongest stretch after the break. Alessia Nouemsi (Season PPG: 9.60) and Suéllen Cabral Tavares (Season PPG: 10.88) helped the visitors build a 35-27 lead, their biggest advantage at +8. Jérôme Defer's team then turned the game in the last quarter. Julie De Oliveira (Season PPG: 7.14), a 15-year-old guard, hit a key three to make it 30-35 and later scored the final basket. Jordane Pyee (Season PPG: 9.20) got on a roll in the fourth quarter with 8 points, including four in a row for 44-43. KDS briefly went back in front at 45-44 through Tyana Amou (Season PPG: 5.00), before NIT answered one last time.
De Oliveira finished with 14 points, matching her season maximum, while Pyee added 13 and captain Maëlle Schillings (Season PPG: 11.56) scored 10. For KDS, Nouemsi had 9 points, Cabral Tavares 8, and Ingrid Bayart (Season PPG: 10.50), Amou and Lina Maz combined for 18. Late foul pressure also mattered for KDS, with Bayart, Emma Kazic and Lara Mendes da Silva all ending on four fouls.
(AI generated)