Sparta Bertrange controlled Amicale Steesel 86-73 in Steinsel, overturning an early deficit with a superior middle stretch and tightening their grip on second place (9-3). Amicale (4th, 5-7) started sharper, 27-23 after the first quarter behind outside shot-making from Mandy Geniëts and Desiree Genevieve Ramos (Season PPG: 21.67, RPG: 6.47, AssPG: 2.00).
The game flipped in the second. Sparta strung together a 12-2 run from 27-24, fueled by Lena Mersch (a three and a two) and capped by Jordan King's first triple for 29-37; the visitors led 46-42 at halftime. The third quarter was decisive: Nicole Torresani (Season PPG: 17.00, RPG: 5.38, AssPG: 1.54) took over with six consecutive points (47-55 to 50-59) and, later, back-to-back threes for 52-69, Sparta's largest lead at +17. Amicale's timeout could not blunt the momentum, and the quarter finished 25-14 for the visitors.
Paul Missavage's team briefly rallied in the fourth as Geniëts and Ramos reduced the gap to 68-74, but Ramos picked up her fifth foul soon after, and Sparta closed through King and Bridget Yoerger (SPA). Mike Feyder's side is now on a five-game winning streak.
Numbers tell the story: Amicale dominated the glass (16 offensive, 51 defensive rebounds) and led 8-0 in blocked shots and steals combined, but 20 turnovers to Sparta's 4 proved costly. Sparta's free throws were good at 75% (6/8), while Amicale shot 43% on twos and 35% from three.
Top performers
- Sparta: Torresani poured in 27 (MVP), including two late triples; King (Season PPG: 20.80) added 22 and 3 steals; Adryana Michelle Quezada (24, 1.79m, USA) contributed 12 inside; Mersch chipped 12 with a key second-quarter burst.
- Amicale: Brazil Ronelle Harvey-Carr (AMI) led with 22; Ramos added 19 before fouling out; Geniëts hit 15; Kathryn Missavage scored 11.
(AI generated)