Musel Pikes overpowered Sparta Bertrange 102-48 in Dreiborn, staying atop W-U16 Division 1 (3-0) while Sparta fell to 0-3. The opening was balanced at 4-4 before Sparta briefly led 5-4, but Musel closed the first quarter 24-14 behind steady scoring from Zoe Freitas, Marie Gloden and Lisa Kleuls.
The second quarter decided the game. After moving 28-14 ahead, Musel ripped a 12-0 run built by Freitas, Kleuls, Nour Elodie Diallo and Sonia Garcia Garcia (13, ESP), stretching the gap to 43-16 and taking a 58-26 halftime lead. Sparta's captain Lilly Engels accumulated early fouls (three in Q1), which limited her impact and put the visitors under pressure.
Sparta competed better after the break (third quarter 16-15 to Musel), with Engels and Quineth Safira Lucy Zaal finding the basket and Hanna Rotink adding mid-range makes, but Freitas answered with another three to keep the hosts firmly in control. In the fourth, Musel accelerated again (28-7): Kleuls hit back-to-back buckets and Diallo closed the night with 6 straight points for the final +54, the largest lead.
Top performers Musel: Freitas 27 (2 threes), Garcia Garcia 21 (fouled out late), Kleuls 17, Gloden 13, Diallo 12, Ashareela Prins van Wijngaarden 6. Sparta: Rotink 14, Engels 10 (captain, fouled out in Q4), Zaal 6, Kleio Chatzinikoli (14, GRC) 5, Annabel Maria Mason Mateos 5.
Musel's volume inside was striking: 45 two-point field goals, 2 threes and 6 made free throws. Sparta answered with 18 twos, 1 three and 9 free throws. Notable sequences: Musel's 12-0 blast in Q2 and Diallo's 6-0 to finish. Also, Zoe Schmit picked up successive fouls in Q2. Coach Majdi Anan managed the rotation through timely time-outs, while Colin Braun's Sparta never found sustained rhythm.
Form note: Musel have opened with three consecutive wins; Sparta have dropped three in a row. Musel lead the table; Sparta sit fifth.
(AI generated)