BBC East Side Pirates controlled proceedings in Berbourg, beating Telstar Hesperange 80-51 in the W-Nationale 2 qualification round. The Pirates set the tone early with an 8-0 burst from 5-5 to 13-5 in the first quarter and never looked back, building leads of 24-16, 47-29 and 68-41 across the breaks. The largest gap reached 29 points at the finish. Ivan Yeromin's Telstar called two timeouts midway through the second quarter but could not slow the home side's rhythm.
The third quarter was decisive: Lynn Frank (Season PPG: 12.67) opened the half with six straight points and finished with a game-high 21 (10 two-point field goals and 1 free throw). Nina Schmit (Season PPG: 8.46) added 16, including a three at the start and another in the third, while Samantha Lizardo (Season PPG: 5.46) chipped in 10 with two triples. Jennifer Ferring (Season PPG: 10.08) repeatedly punished Telstar at the line, converting six free throws and totaling 10. Inside, 29-year-old Denise Kirsche (DEU; Season PPG: 11.08) contributed 13, including a string of made free throws bridging the third and fourth quarters.
For Telstar, Ines Moreira (Season PPG: 13.25) led with 17, combining drives, a three and free throws. Dania Brugnoni (Season PPG: 5.45) added 13 and Charline Lutgen (Season PPG: 10.67) scored 8. Julie Simon (Season PPG: 3.17) hit a fourth-quarter three but earlier picked up three personal fouls in quick succession in the second quarter, which hurt Telstar's continuity. Iris Roca Mandri (ESP; Season PPG: 7.50) had 4.
Game flow featured several micro-runs for the Pirates: Ferring sank four consecutive free throws in the first quarter, and Frank scored eight of BEP's first 10 after halftime. Under coach Stéphane Roger Said, BEP completed a 2-0 sweep of Telstar this season (79-63 away, then 80-51 at home), moved to 8-5 and jumped three places to 4th. Telstar slipped to 4-9, remaining 8th and on a four-game losing streak.
(AI generated)