BBC East Side Pirates controlled their W-Nationale 2 qualifier in Berbourg, beating Basket Esch B 64-39 after dictating the rhythm from the start. BEP opened with a 14-0 burst in the first five minutes, fuelled by early baskets from Samantha Lizardo, Jennifer Ferring and captain Nina Schmit. LALB burned a quick timeout at 6-0 but still trailed 22-8 after 10 minutes, with Ferring calmly adding four straight free throws during the run.
LALB reacted in the second quarter, winning it 16-12. Captain Cynthia Dohn powered a mini-comeback with free throws and a three, while Alice Fortunaso scored five points to steady BEP. An unsportsmanlike foul on Ferring briefly shifted momentum, yet BEP reached halftime up 34-24. A telling first-half subplot: Luca Stocklausen picked up two fouls in a row late in Q1 and finished the half with four, hampering LALB's rotations.
Coach SAID Stephane Roger's team shut the door in the third. After an initial LALB basket (34-26), BEP answered with an 8-0 spurt from Lynn Frank, Ferring, Denise Kirsche (28, DEU) and two Lizardo free throws, stretching the gap to 42-26 and taking the quarter 18-4. The hosts' largest lead reached 28 points at 56-28 early in the fourth, and Julia Reuland later buried a three to keep the cushion intact.
Top performers for BEP: Ferring led with 15 points; Frank (39, 1.76m) added 12; Kirsche scored 11 inside; Schmit had 7, with Reuland and Lizardo at 6 apiece. For LALB, the standout was Marcia Cristina Rocha Fernandes (16, PRT) with 10 points, supported by Dohn's 8, and 6 each from Stocklausen and Ariana Dos Santos da Graça (20, PRT). Fortunaso fouled out late for BEP, but the outcome was no longer in doubt.
In the standings, BEP improve to 2-0 and climb to 2nd, opening the season with two straight wins. LALB drop to 0-2 and sit 9th, still searching for a first victory. Coach Raouf Hatira's side showed resilience in Q2, but the third-quarter surge from the Pirates proved decisive.
(AI generated)
BBC East Side Pirates 
Basket Esch B 
