Arantia Larochette edged Sparta Bertrange 52-47 in the W-Coupe Cadettes 1/8 finales at atert/terrain1, overturning a double-digit deficit with a decisive fourth quarter.
Sparta, guided by coach Colin Braun, set the tone early. Joy Have opened with a three and Chiara Sahaia Rasolofo added inside points before Luisa Feyder (17, 1.75m) closed the first quarter with a triple for 14-9. Feyder then caught fire in the second quarter, pouring in 13 points including three more threes. Sparta built the highest lead of the night at 28-18 and held a 32-27 advantage at halftime, despite a timely triple from Suellen Santos Cruz (17, PRT) and steady scoring by Nora Hansen (16, BEL).
Arantia, coached by Joao Pedro Osorio Silva, reset after the break. Erika De Sousa Silva's basket tied it at 32-32, but Sparta steadied through two free throws by Lilly Engels and more production from Rasolofo to carry a 41-37 lead into the fourth.
The game turned in the final period. After Feyder's free throws made it 44-39, Arantia delivered a 10-0 run: Lucie Rock scored inside, Santos Cruz buried a clutch three to tie at 44-44, Hansen finished at the rim for the lead, Rock added a free throw, and Santos Cruz hit two more at the line for 44-49. Feyder briefly stopped the slide with a basket (46-49), but Sarah Nunes Birchen answered from two and Clara Walter added a free throw to reach 46-52. Sparta's last point came from the line for 47-52, and Arantia managed the final possessions.
Top performers:
- Sparta: Luisa Feyder 24 points (4 threes, 6 free throws); Chiara Sahaia Rasolofo 12 (five 2-pt field goals, 2 free throws); Joy Have 5. Alexia Vevecka picked up 4 personal fouls; Have had 3.
- Arantia: Nora Hansen 16 (six 2-pt field goals, 4 free throws); Suellen Santos Cruz 13 (3 threes, 4 free throws); Sarah Nunes Birchen 5; Lucie Rock 5. Contributions also from Erika De Sousa Silva 4, Clara Walter (15, DEU) 3, Rita Silva 2, Ylvi Lepage Post 2.
Arantia were the game winners in a close contest, sealing it with composed late-game scoring and free throws.
(AI generated)