T71 Dudelange edged Basket Esch 79-75 after overtime in the W-Enovos League qualification round, staying perfect on the season and keeping top spot. The visitors controlled the first half (22-14, then 44-35 at the break) and even stretched the gap to a game-high +12 at 8-20. Esch answered after halftime: a 13-0 burst turned 35-47 into a 48-47 lead, with Jovana Jaksic (33, 1.77m) steady at the line and Katia Jemming (19, 1.53m) and Kyra Coulon (21, 1.78m) hitting from deep. Esch entered money time ahead 65-61, but T71 replied with a 9-0 swing (Gomes Jordao FT, Shalonda Winton (34, 1.80m, USA) for three, Michelle Dittgen (28, 1.70m) for three, Lauren Van Kleunen FTs) to 65-70. Coulon's late three forced 73-73 and overtime.
In the extra period, T71 found the winners: Van Kleunen (27, 1.88m, USA) scored the first three points, Beatriz Ines Gomes Jordao (26, 1.91m, PRT) made it 75-78, and Winton added the final FT. Esch lost Jemming to five fouls late in regulation and later Tatsiana Likhtarovich (37, 1.78m, BLR) in OT; T71's Svenia Nurenberg (25, 1.80m) also fouled out in Q4.
Numbers told a clear story. Esch was solid at the stripe (16/19, 84%) but struggled from the field (13/42 2P, 31%; 11/38 3P, 29%). T71 hit 53% inside (23/43) and controlled the glass (45-40), overcoming 15/31 FTs (48%) and 20 turnovers.
Among locals, Jaksic posted 18 points and 10 rebounds (double-double), Jemming added 18 with an excellent 4/6 from three, and Coulon had 13, including the tying triple. For T71's overseas players, Van Kleunen led with 20 points and 11 boards, Winton chipped in 12 points and 7 assists. Dittgen's 16 came on a perfect 4/4 from three (excellent), while Gomes Jordao claimed MVP with 16 points and 17 rebounds and the go-ahead OT basket.
Mathieu Pierre Fivet's team is 4-0 (four straight wins), while Karim Elbaoune's side drops to 1-2 and sits fourth.
(AI generated)