Amicale Steesel edged Musel Pikes 68-61 in Steinsel in the qualification round, completing a 2-0 sweep after October's 83-53 win. Coach Paul Missavage's team set the tone early: after Musel briefly led 5-2, Julie Mangen and Brazil Ronelle Harvey-Carr strung together inside baskets before Desiree Ramos closed the first quarter with a three and back-to-back drives, 21-16. The second period belonged to Kathryn Jo Missavage (17, 1.80m): she scored all 11 of her points in that quarter, pushing Amicale to a 42-30 halftime lead, their largest margin.
Musel responded after the break. Alexandra Weber caught fire with three triples in the third, spearheading a 14-4 run that cut the gap to 46-44. Amicale steadied through baskets by Ramos and Lara Lepage Post to carry a 52-46 cushion into the fourth. Early in the final quarter, Harvey-Carr completed an and-one for 55-46, but Musel kept coming: Mackenzie Caroline Farmer (26, 1.88m, CAN) hit from deep and Weber added another three to make it 55-52. The visitors stayed within two possessions several times (61-58, then 66-61), yet Amicale closed it out at the line Ramos sank three straight free throws late and Marie Stoffel converted two more to seal it.
Key numbers: Amicale shot well inside (2P 61%) and from the stripe (FT 80%) but struggled from distance (2/21, 10%). Musel had good free-throwing (77%) yet couldn't match inside (2P 41%) and went 9/38 from three (24%) despite Weber's excellent 6/9. Amicale owned the glass 40-32 but committed 21 turnovers to Musel's 15.
Standouts: Ramos (32, 1.70m, USA) delivered 25 points, drew eight fouls and played all 40 minutes; Harvey-Carr (24, USA) was game MVP with 20 points on 9/13 2P and nine boards. From the local group, Stoffel grabbed 11 rebounds and hit the clinchers, while Missavage added 11 points and three steals; Mangen posted 6 points on 75% 2P. For Musel, Weber had 20 points with six threes, captain Julie Nilles added 11, and Farmer produced 16 points, 9 rebounds (7/8 FT) while managing four fouls. Coach Marc Hahnemann's side drops back-to-back after a brief two-win uptick, while Amicale snaps a three-game skid.
(AI generated)