AB Contern controlled a lowscoring friendly against Spirou Charleroi, 55-46 in Contern, building their win on a dominant first half and riding that cushion to the finish.
The hosts opened 6-0 and led 18-13 after the first. The game's decisive stretch came in the second quarter: from 20-19, Contern unleashed a 15-0 run to close the half at 35-19, fueled by Esmeralda Skrijelj (30, 1.80m) from the arc and the interior presence of Stefanie Kulesza (CON). After the break, Anisa Croitoru (SPC) struck from deep to spark the visitors, but Kulesza answered immediately and strung backtoback buckets to restore a 16-point gap (43-27), the highest lead. Charleroi replied with a 7-0 burst (Leana Ralet, Flora Patte, Veronica Tronche) to 43-34, only for Charlie Bidinger (30, 1.64m) to hit a timely three and Kulesza to steady it again to 50-36 after three.
In the fourth, Charleroi trimmed marginally through Croitoru and Amalia Marotta (SPC) from deep and Tronche at the line, but Skrijelj and Caileigh Walsh (CON) added free throws to keep Contern safe.
Top performers
- Contern: Kulesza (CON) poured in 22 on 10 made twos and 2 free throws, with 10 in the third; Walsh (CON) 12; Skrijelj (30, 1.80m) 10 (two triples, four free throws); captain Lou Mathieu (30, 1.68m) 8 on two threes.
- Spirou: Ralet (SPC) 13 (five twos, one three); Croitoru (SPC) 12 with two triples; Patte (SPC) 6; Marotta (SPC) 5.
Discipline played a role late: Kulesza finished on four fouls, while Laetitia Waterlot and Tronche had three for SPC. Coaches Fabienne Fuger (CON) and Vincent Bouffioux (SPC) saw their teams trade runs after halftime, but Contern's secondquarter 15-0 surge remained the separating line.
(AI generated)