T71 Dudelange opened the Phase finale with a 82-72 road win at Sparta Bertrange, confirming September's head-to-head (64-54) and extending their season streak to 11 straight victories. Sparta led 16-10 in the first quarter before a 9-0 T71 response, sparked by Mina Baseggio, flipped it to 16-19; T71 edged Q1, 21-20. Baseggio then strung six points in a row early in Q2 for 22-27, but Sparta closed the half on a 9-3 push driven by Nicole Torresani at the line to lead 39-38.
The third quarter was a trade of blows until Baseggio's triple made it 56-59 entering the last period. Sparta briefly moved ahead 58-59, only for T71 to answer with a decisive 7-0 run (Lara Jemming from deep, then two quick baskets by Lena Schalbar) to 58-66. After Sparta cut it to 64-66, a Wies layup and a Baseggio triple rebuilt the gap, and T71 finished with seven unanswered (Jemming 3, Wies and Schalbar) to reach their largest lead at the buzzer (+10).
Jemming (Season PPG: 16.00) matched her season best with 27 points, Baseggio (Season PPG: 13.09) hit five threes for 22, with Dana Wies (Season PPG: 14.91) adding 14 and Schalbar (Season PPG: 14.18) 10. For Sparta, Torresani (Season PPG: 21.50) carried the offense with 25 (nine 2s, seven FTs), and Tereza Liska (17, 1.82m, SVK) added 20, including a key third-quarter three. Joy Have (Season PPG: 4.90) chipped in a triple. T71's perimeter edge 21 points from seven threes versus Sparta's 6 from two proved telling.
Colin Braun's side held a halftime lead, but Alain Schaeffer's team controlled the fourth. T71 sits 2nd after Round 1; Sparta starts 0-1 in 5th.
(AI generated)