AB Contern edged Basket Esch 76-75 in a game with several momentum swings, decided by Kyra Coulon's late three-pointer. Fabienne Fuger's team climbed one place to 2nd in the standings; Basket Esch remained 4th.
Esch started better and led 20-15 after the first quarter, with Tatsiana Likhtarovich (38, 1.80m, BLR) setting the tone. Contern changed the rhythm in the second period. After trailing 28-25, Coulon (Season PPG: 13.00, RPG: 3.14, AssPG: 1.43) scored 6 points in a row during a 13-8 stretch, and CON went into halftime ahead 42-38. Contern's team shooting was good from the line, 15/18 (83.3%), and good on 2-pointers, 20/36 (55.6%), while also producing 20 assists.
The third quarter turned again. Likhtarovich sparked an 8-0 Esch run from 44-38 to 46-44, and LAL won the period 22-12. Early in the fourth, Amra Hasanovic (27, 1.70m) hit a three for Esch's biggest lead, 63-54.
Contern responded with an 11-0 run to reach 65-63, powered by Coulon and Sarah Gates (27, CAN). Esch answered through Joy Baum (24, 1.66m), Hasanovic and Likhtarovich to move back in front 73-69. Eden Nibbelink (27, 1.80m) then made it 75-73 before Coulon tied and hit the game-winning three for 76-75.
For Contern, Coulon finished with 23 points, shooting 7/10 on 2-pointers and an excellent 2/3 from deep. Esmeralda Skrijelj (Season PPG: 11.60, RPG: 11.86, AssPG: 4.00) added 12 points, 13 rebounds and 9 assists. Gates scored 22, and Liz Irthum (Season PPG: 3.00, RPG: 3.43, AssPG: 1.86) had 9 points on an excellent 4/4 from 2.
For Esch, game MVP Likhtarovich posted 29 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, with excellent 5/5 free-throw shooting and an excellent 2/3 from 3-point range. Nibbelink added 16 points and 10 rebounds, Baum 12 points, and Hasanovic 7 points with 4 steals.
(AI generated)