Amicale Steesel controlled their W-LALUX Ladies Cup 1/4 final in Steinsel, beating Musel Pikes 85-67 after a fast start and a decisive third-quarter burst.
After Alexandra Weber (25, 1.68m) opened the game with a triple for 0-3, Steesel answered with a 30-15 first quarter. Julie Mangen (27, 1.64m) set the tone with 13 points in the period, while Mandy Geniets (27, 1.78m) added two timely threes. Musel reacted in the second: Mackenzie Caroline Farmer (25, 1.88m, CAN) powered the visitors inside and Alexis Pomaika'i Pana (27, 1.75m, USA) hit three triples, two of them in a row, to spark an 8-0 run from 40-26 to 40-34. Steesel still led 46-36 at the half.
The key stretch came after Musel closed to 48-46 early in the third. Coach Paul Missavage's team ripped a 12-0 run Mangen, Marie Stoffel (22, 1.77m) at the line and inside, Desiree Genevieve Ramos (32, 1.70m, USA) and Geniets to 60-46, restoring full control. In the fourth, Mangen added two more threes as the hosts pushed the gap to a high of 20 (85-65) before closing.
Shooting told the story: Steesel hit 9/23 from three (39%, good) and 12/14 at the line (86%, good), while Musel struggled from deep at 5/36 (14%) despite a solid 21/37 inside (57%, good) and 10/12 free throws (83%, good). Steesel also won the glass 41-35 and moved the ball better (17 assists to 6).
Top performers
- Amicale: Mangen 27 points with an excellent 6/10 from three and 4 assists; Ramos (32, 1.70m, USA) delivered 23 points and 11 rebounds (double-double); Geniets 18 points; Stoffel contributed 9 points and 15 rebounds. Lara Maria Lepage Post (19, 1.66m) added a first-quarter three.
- Musel: Farmer produced 38 points and 10 rebounds (double-double) and topped the game's MVP index; Pana (27, 1.75m, USA) scored 14 with three triples; Weber had 11 but reached four fouls late.
Coach Marc Hahnemann's side briefly threatened in Q3 but couldn't overcome Steesel's perimeter efficiency and the third-quarter 12-0 run. Amicale Steesel advance to the semifinals.
(AI generated)