BBC East Side Pirates controlled BC Mess 55-46 in Berbourg in the W-Nationale 2 qualification round (Aller, game 6). The hosts set the tone with a 14-6 first quarter, driven by an early 7-0 spurt, and carried a 28-16 cushion to halftime. A Nina Schmit triple right after the break pushed the gap to the night's largest lead (+15 at 31-16). Mess answered with steady two-point scoring but trailed 44-31 after three.
The last quarter brought the only real scare for the Pirates. Mess pieced together a 7-0 run to get within 47-40. At that juncture, Lynn Frank (Season PPG: 14.2; 39 years, 1.76m) steadied BEP with four consecutive free throws to restore a double-digit margin (51-40). Frank later fouled out, as did Mess's leading scorer Lynn Thilges (27, 1.74m), which blunted the visitors' late push.
Key shot profile decided it: East Side Pirates hit four three-pointers (Schmit 1, Samantha Lizardo 2, Frank 1) while Mess finished without a make from deep. From the line, BEP went 15 makes to MES's 12; inside, Mess had the edge in two-point field goals (17 to 14).
Top performers
- East Side Pirates (locals): Lynn Frank 19 points, including 10 free throws; Jennifer Ferring (Season PPG: 9.0) added 11 and a steady third quarter; captain Nina Schmit (Season PPG: 7.33) chipped in 5 with a momentum three. Among the non-locals, Denise Kirsche (28, DEU; Season PPG: 11.0) contributed 7, including two late free throws.
- BC Mess (locals): Lynn Thilges (27, 1.74m) scored 14 before fouling out; Caroline Pantaleoni (Season PPG: 10.2) added 12; Mara Thein (Season PPG: 3.6) had 6, captain Hannah Pauly (Season PPG: 6.2) 5.
Coach SAID Stephane Roger's side managed the game's tempo and answered every run, while coach SANTIAGO JANEIRO Joao Carlos saw his team battle back in the fourth but fall short without perimeter scoring.
In the standings, BEP climb to 1st (5-1, +1 place), back to winning ways. Mess remain 12th at 0-5 and are still seeking a first win after five defeats in a row.
(AI generated)