The LFB fixture list has become slightly confusing recently with teams rearranging matches.
The 20th round of games was played after two games from the 21st round had been played:
Montpellier ended a domestic three-game losing streak in beating Villeneuve d'Ascq (76-74). Sandra Dijon-Gérardin was the match winner for Montpellier with a game-high 23 points.
In the second match, Nantes-Rezé lost at home to USO Mondeville (57-66).
COB Calais move clear of the relegation zone with a road victory against Toulouse(81-70), while Aix-en-Provence's worries continue as they fell on the road (71-74) to Basket Landes.
You can read highlights of the LFB basketball news from the round 21 actions by clicking on the links below or by scrolling down the page:
Montpellier snapped negative LFB series
Montpellier had a dream start to the game leading (12-2) with less than four minutes on the game clock.
Pauline Krawczyk pushed the advantage up to 13 points with a three-pointer (19-6) with six minutes played.
Villeneuve finally woke up and closed the quarter with a 6-0 run to finish 8 points behind (13-21).
Back to backs treys by Ingrid Tanqueray (10 points) and 5 points by Laurie Datchy (11 points) in a 11-0 run put Villeneuve d'Ascq in front (24-23) with just over two minutes played in the second quarter.
Valéry Demory, the coach from Montpellier, called for a time-out to stop the leakage.
Sandra Dijon-Gérardin and Khadijah Whittington (15 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists) then went to work inside for Montpellier as they recovered the advantage (29-26).
The teams traded baskets for the rest of the quarter with the hosts holding on to their lead at the break (41-37).
Gäelle Skrela (18 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists), Dijon-Gérardin and Whittington continued to batter the Villeneuve defense. They went 11 points clear (52-41) with five minutes left to play in the third quarter.
Abdou N'Diaye decided to bring in 16-year old Fatim Traore into the game. Her youth exuberance was the catalyst for a strong finish as Villeneuve trailed by a single point (55-56) with ten minutes to play.
Alexia Plagnard got the final quarter off to a flying start for Montpellier with a 3-point play.
The older players from the hosts found their way to the basket as they held off the youth players from Villeneuve.
Without Jolene Anderson since the second quarter, Emilie Gomis (13 points and 5 assists) had to play a different role as her side made up the deficit. They went in front (69-65) thanks to Lady Comfort (10 points) with four minutes to play.
Dijon-Gérardin (23 points and 8 rebounds - left in picture) came to the rescue of Montpellier with classic centre play.
Her last actions were back to back scores to put Montpellier back in the lead (75-72) with less than 20 seconds left to play.
Comfort scored again for the guests with about two seconds left to play. Elodie Bertal (15 points) then quickly fouled Krawczyk to stop the clock.
Krawczyk missed the first but hit the second free-throw (76-74). There was no more time for Villeneuve to have a last attempt.
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Mondeville are back in the LFB championship hunt
Aurélie Bonnan twisted her ankle during the Eurocup Women defeat in midweek and was not able to play for Mondeville.
Nantes-Rezé, playing at home, were hoping to reverse their defeat in round 6 and stay in the top 4.
The game itself was not exciting for 35 minutes with defence being the order of the day.
The game was tied (5-5) after five minutes. Then Mondeville managed to take control of the game (15-7) by the end of the first quarter.
Mondeville maintained the advantage up to the interval (26-21) before increasing their lead during the third quarter (44-31).
Nothing happened for the first five minutes of the final quarter as neither side scored.
The game finally came to life during the final five minutes as the flood gates opened with three-pointers flying from all over the court.
Nantes outscored Mondeville 21-16 during the closing phase but Mondeville won the match (66-57). With this victory they move back into fourth place in the domestic standings.
Lenae Williams went 4-of-7 from the three-point land and was also the highest scorer for Mondeville with 20 points.
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The LFB fixture list has become slightly confusing recently with teams rearranging matches.
Pauline Akonga-Nsimbo (right) fired in 30 points in the victory of Arras (74-63) against Tarbes, while Bourges Basket claimed their LFB championship play-off spot by beating Challes-les-Eaux on the road (61-52).
