AB Contern controlled most of the friendly at contern/central and beat Basket Esch 83-75, building a massive cushion before resisting a late surge. The hosts led 23-17 after 10 minutes, sparked by Stefanie Grace Kulesza, who opened the game with two free throws and a layup, and by early outside makes from Caileigh Ann Walsh and captain Esmeralda Skrijelj. Contern broke the game open in the second quarter (24-10): Walsh's steady free throws, Skrijelj at the line and from deep, plus a point from Claire Lavandier around an unsportsmanlike foul on Bruna Fonseca (U2) pushed the gap to 47-27 at halftime.
Skrijelj drilled another three after the break and Contern quickly stretched the lead to 55-29, the night's largest margin (+26). Basket Esch answered through captain Tatsiana Likhtarovich, who strung together threes and drives to get the visitors going, with support from Jovana Jaksic and Emma Wallenborn, trimming it to 65-50 entering the fourth. Esch kept chipping away through Kyra Coulon and Eden Nibbelink, but Contern found timely answers: Lou Alliaume twice at the rim, then Walsh hit five points in a row (three and a two) to make it 80-64, and Skrijelj added a final three for 83-64. Esch then closed on an 11-0 run Nibbelink's and-one, a Laurie Chaumont three, Katia Jemming and Likhtarovich but the gap was too wide to erase.
Standouts
- Contern locals: Skrijelj (21) set the tone; Lavandier added 7; the Alliaume sisters combined for 8.
- Contern others: Walsh (26, 1.91m, 23, USA) mixed four threes with six made free throws; Kulesza 12; Ana Petrova (9, 1.71m, 43, BGR) hit two key threes.
- Basket Esch locals: Coulon 14 with seven two-pointers; Mara Chaumont 3 and a late triple; Jemming 2.
- Basket Esch others: Likhtarovich (22, 1.78m, 37, BLR) led the response with five twos and three threes; Jaksic 14; Nibbelink 14, including a late and-one.
No player fouled out; Vincent Gevrey's side finished strongly, but Fabienne Fuger's team had already done the decisive damage in the middle quarters. Contern made 10 threes and 15 free throws; Esch replied with 6 threes and a strong interior tally.
(AI generated)