Etzella Ettelbruck, first in the phase-finale standings, stayed unbeaten at 7-0 with a clear 78-38 road win over second-placed Sparta Bertrange, their third win against Sparta this season. Etzella also extended their active run to seven straight victories.
The game turned quickly after Sparta's good opening. Stéphanie Stoeva (Season PPG: 8.87) gave the home side a 4-2 start, but Etzella answered immediately. From 4-5, the visitors closed the first quarter on a 16-3 run to lead 21-7. Emma Klein (Season PPG: 19.24) and captain Jill Maes (Season PPG: 17.14) set the tone early, while Etzella's pressure also forced Sparta into a difficult offensive rhythm.
The second quarter removed most suspense. Maes scored Etzella's first 6 points of the period and the lead grew to 27-7. Sparta had some resistance through the 12-year-old German players Stoeva and captain Marie-Fleur Elisabeth Flechtner (Season PPG: 10.00), but Etzella still won the quarter 18-10 and reached halftime up 39-17.
Sparta produced its best spell after the break. Maya Gaudnek (Season PPG: 4.46) and Stoeva helped cut the gap to 23-39 with 6 unanswered points. That was a key moment, and coach Dragana Zoric's team reacted well: Etzella rebuilt control and restored a 57-31 margin by the end of the third.
In the last quarter, Etzella finished strongly. Klein, Maes and Leni Kreins (Season PPG: 15.27) kept the scoring pace high, and the visitors put together 14 unanswered points from 64-34 to 78-34 for their biggest lead at 44. Klein led all scorers with 26, Maes added 22 and Kreins 16. For Sparta, Stoeva scored 15, Flechtner 13 and Gaudnek 6.
(AI generated)