Amicale Steesel pulled away late to beat Sparta Bertrange 71-58 in a friendly at Atert. Sparta started sharper, up 23-20 after 10 minutes and 36-33 at half. Early in the third, the hosts stretched it to 39-33, but Amicale flipped the game with an 11-0 run powered by Marie Stoffel (22, 1.77m) and a triple from Julie Mangen (27, 1.64m), seizing a 44-39 lead and entering the last quarter ahead 48-44.
Sparta briefly regained the edge at 51-50 on a three by Naomi Davenport (SPA), before Amicale closed with a decisive 21-8 finish. Desiree Ramos (31, USA) repeatedly got to the line two consecutive free throws twice in the second half and added key drives, while late threes by Mangen and Lily Wittwer (17, 1.80m) stretched the gap to the night's largest margin (+13) at the buzzer. Coach Paul Missavage's group managed the moments well with late time-outs.
Top performers
- Amicale: Stoffel 15 (six 2s, three FTs), Ramos 15 (four FTs, one 3), Mangen 12 (2/2/2), Mandy Geniêts (26, 1.78m) 8.
- Sparta: Jennifer Aadland (SPA) 16 with three triples, Davenport (SPA) 12 with two threes, Lena Mersch (28, 1.73m) 9.
Sparta's captain Cathrin Wolff (29, 1.81m) contributed 6 but fouled out in the fourth, a blow as Amicale's surge took hold. Nicole Torresani (18, 1.75m, ITA) added 6 for Sparta, while Amicale also got timely buckets from Kathryn Missavage and Jil Gloden.
(AI generated)