Basket Esch lost 52-87 at home to Saarlouis Royals in this international friendly, and the game was shaped very early. Saarlouis opened with a 7-0 run through Elina Koskimes (SRO) and Emma Eichmeier (SRO). Basket Esch answered through Eden Elizabeth Nibbelink (27, 1.80m), who scored 5 points in a row to bring it back to 5-7, but the visitors quickly took control again. A 10-0 Saarlouis burst pushed the gap to 18-8, and the first quarter closed at 27-10.
Coach Karim Elbaoune's team reacted better in the second period after Saarlouis had stretched the margin to 37-10 with another 10 unanswered points. Tatsiana Likhtarovich (38, 1.78m, BLR), Katia Jemming (20, 1.53m) and Jovana Jaksic (33, 1.77m) led a much better spell, and Basket Esch won the quarter 17-18 only narrowly losing it, reaching halftime at 27-45.
The third quarter stayed more competitive. Likhtarovich scored 8 points in the period and Esch cut the deficit to 43-60, but Martha Burse (SRO) kept Saarlouis in command. The last quarter was one-sided again: Saarlouis opened with 6 straight points and finished with a 25-9 period, taking the highest lead to 35.
Burse (SRO) finished with 25 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter. Jessika Schiffer (SRO) added 14, Koskimes (SRO) 13 and Eichmeier (SRO) 11. For Basket Esch, Likhtarovich had 15 points and 5 assists, Nibbelink posted 14 points and 5 rebounds and was ranked game MVP, while Jaksic added 13 points with an excellent 3/3 at the line. As a team, Basket Esch shot a good 86% on free throws, but only 38% on 2-pointers and 27% on 3-pointers, with 23 turnovers.
(AI generated)