AB Contern won 79-67 at Sparta Bertrange in a Phase finale game that stayed competitive deep into the second half. The result moved Contern up one place to 3rd, while Sparta dropped one spot to 4th; both teams now stand at 4-4. It also changed the season head-to-head after Sparta had taken the first two meetings.
Sparta started better and built the first real gap at 13-4, with Tereza Liska (Season PPG: 19.80) and 18-year-old Italian guard Nicole Torresani, 1.78m (Season PPG: 21.85), setting the tone. Contern reacted well and closed the first quarter on a strong stretch to get back to 21-20. The second quarter was balanced: Contern briefly went in front at 25-24, but Sparta answered and led 37-36 at halftime.
The game turned in the third period. After 45-45, Contern produced a 12-4 run to close the quarter, with Zoé Moes (Season PPG: 14.00) and Julie Braun Silva (Season PPG: 11.83) driving that swing. That changed a one-possession game into a 57-49 Contern lead. Sparta reduced it to 57-53 early in the fourth, but Contern stayed in control. From 63-72, the visitors added 7 unanswered points and reached their biggest lead at 79-63 before Sparta scored the last 4 points.
Contern's strength was balance, with five players in double figures: Zoé Moes 18, Orélie Moes (Season PPG: 8.29) 14, Lou Alliaume (Season PPG: 9.44) 14, Braun Silva 13 and Lisa Zoller (Season PPG: 9.19) 11. Braun Silva also played through four fouls and still hit key baskets in the second half. Under coach Fabienne Fuger, Contern now has two wins in a row after a difficult losing stretch.
For Sparta, Torresani carried the offense with 29 points, while 15-year-old French guard/forward Chiara Rasolofo (Season PPG: 11.53) added 13 and Liska 12. The home side had the better opening, but Contern's third-quarter control and shared scoring made the difference.
(AI generated)