Bourges Basket exploits are in the LFB news for round 16
LFB news: Bourges Basket remain unbeaten
Villeneuve went for speed at the beginning of the match as they attempted to destabilise Bourges. Yet they were not able to turn their early domination of possession to points and thus allowing Bourges to stay in contact (6-6).
Bourges started to get their inside game going and with Sonja Kireta in particular effective in the paint opened up a small gap by the end of the first period (18-12).
Villeneuve regained their composure at the start of the second quarter and once Fatimatou Sacko hit a trey, the pendulum swung in their favour. They started to pick up rebounds and found their mark at mid-distance.
Shala Crawford completed the home side’s comeback to level the match (24-24). Pierre Vincent, (left) Bourges’ head coach recalled Céline Dumerc and Cathy Melain into the action and Bourges regained the control of the game for good as they took the lead (31-24).
Abdou N'Diaye, Villeneuve’s head coach used a time-out to settle his troops. But it was a Pierre Vincent time-out with five seconds left in the first half that resulted in the play of the match. Melain inbounded the ball to Belinda Snell who raced up the field and stopped just behind the three-point line to hit the shot to close the first half (37-28).
After the break the game became rather scrappy with not much action offensively. The few points scored came from inside.
The game only picked up when Melain made space for herself for a mid-distance jumper (44-32). Villeneuve went back to basics and started to run at Bourges and quickly reduced their deficit (41-47).
Vincent used a time-out to break his opponents’ rhythm and once again Snell was on hand to end the quarter with a score as Bourges went into the final period with a 10-point lead (51-41).
Géraldine Robert who was having a solid game for Villeneuve made things difficult for Bourges at the start of the last quarter. Unfortunately for Villeneuve her individual action was not enough to deal with Bourges’ collective unit.
Five minutes before the end Bourges cleverly fouled Crawford out of the game, the end result was clear. Villeneuve did not give up but Bourges had enough resources to hold out to win (64-54).
It was not a spectacular match and both teams can play much better. Kireta led the scoring for Bourges with 16 points, three other players finished in double digits: Robert from Villeneuve with 16 points and 13 rebounds was the player of the match.
USVO started the game well by scoring the first 7 points but ended up trailing to the hosts Arras (24-22) by the end of the first period.
The second quarter was end to end basketball in a typical derby match fashion as neither side was ready to concede a centimetre of space. Natasa Ivancevic and Elzbieta Miedzik from Arras with 13 and 10 points respectively at the interval were the main reason that Arras went into the break leading (38-36).
Laurie Koehn, Nicole Ohlde and Emilie Gomis were in no mood to let this game go for USVO and did their best to negate the efforts of Carla Thomas who took over the offensive duties for Arras. The hosts held on to their advantage at the end of the third period (51-48).
Arras were still leading (60-57) before an avalanche of personal fouls saw them lose Ivancevic and Miedzik as the game entered its critical phase.
Gomis was the catalyst with 7 points as USVO scored 11 unanswered points (68-60) to take hold of the game. Thomas and Sheana Mosch tried to bring Arras back but the experience of Francesca Zara and Krissy Bade was enough to secure the win for USVO (72-67).
Gomis led the scoring with 20 points but once again it was Ohlde with 14 points and 11 rebounds who was the pick of the players from USVO, while the player of the match was Thomas from Arras with her 21 points and 13 rebounds.
LFB news: COB Calais suffer fourth consecutive defeat
Clermont-Ferrand had no pity for Calais
Allyson Hardy was doubtful before this match and must have wished that she did not bother coming as she spent most of the game on the bench due to foul problems.
Claudia Das Neveswas the main cause of Calais’ problems as she drew 7 fouls, dished out 7 assists and scored 22 points including 3-of-5 from the land of many.
Once Clermont took the lead (5-4) they kept it for the rest of the game. Calais trailing (12-19) at the end of the first period fought back in the second and reduced their deficit (26-29). Clermont managed to stay in front by the break (41-32) with 15 points coming from the free-throw line.
Hardy lasted only 50 seconds in the third quarter before picking up her fourth foul. With her out of the way Clermont ran riot and increased their advantage to 20 points by the end of the this period (65-45). The final quarter was just a formality as Clermont won the game (85-69).
Lauren Neaves led the scoring for Calais with 21 points and Lina Brazdeïkyte scored 15.
Some interesting statistics for Clermont-Ferrand: in the first half of the match they went 15-of-15 from the free-throw line while in the second half they were 1-of-2. They also managed 2-of-6 from three-point territory while in the second half they hit 7-of-15.
Mondeville held off Mourenx, while Milica Dabovic début makes LFB news
Mondeville started the match well and appeared to have everything under control leading (25-12) after 15 minutes. Ana Lelas and Béatrice Castets from Mourenx had other ideas and back-to-back three-pointers brought their side back into the game. Mondeville managed to hold on to their advantage at the interval (38-32).
Lenae Williams (left) and Jennifer Digbeu quickly put Mondeville back in charge in the third period and by the time Milica Dabovic made her entry Mondeville had established a 12-point lead.
Mourenx never gave up but were not able to reduce their deficit enough to trouble their hosts, therefore allowing Mondeville the victory (66-53).
LFB news on Sunday madness in the Ligue Féminine
The last three matches in round 16 went to the wire. Montpellier hung on to beat a spirited Tarbes’ side (69-65) while Reims through Mame Marie Sy won against Challes-les Eaux on the last action. Saint Amand was stunned at home by Aix-en-Provence and a super motivated K B. Sharp (64-68).
LFB News: Montpellier remain unbeaten in 2008
LFB news: Montpellier undefeated in nine games
Gaëlle Skréla and Sandra Dijon from Montpellier were 100% in the first seven minutes of the first period (21-7). Tarbes did not lose their composure and matched Montpellier for the rest of this quarter but still trailed by 11 points (15-26).
Liz Moeggenberg with 9 points in the second period was Tarbes’ motivator as they briefly went in front through Kristen Mann (35-34). Then Gunta Basko put Montpellier ahead with a 3-point play only for Moeggenberg to level the score (37-37) before the break.
Montpellier went on a 7-0 run to take control of the game once more (50-44) during the third period and maintained a 6-point lead going into the final quarter (54-48).
Tarbes switched to zone during the final period which disturbed their hosts. With just over four minutes left the guests were trailing by a single point (63-62). Montpellier gave the impression of controlling the game and with 37 seconds left still led (67-65).
Katia Manic managed to draw a foul and split a pair from the free-throw line to give Montpellier a 3-point lead. Tarbes went for a 3-point play but unfortunately Mann’s ball did not drop and Aurélie Bonnan from Montpellier picked up the defensive rebound.
Bonnan was fouled immediately by Moeggenberg but missed her free-throws for Dijon to pick up the defensive rebound. She was fouled and managed to split a pair of free-throws. With no time left on the game clock Mann threw a long-distance precision pass to Moeggenberg who fired it off immediately but the ball fell short.
The LFB news is that Montpellier notched up their ninth consecutive victory and that Basko will head the scoring and efficiency (ranking stats) statistics.
Jessica Davenport battles with Mame Marie Sy
LFB news: Challes-les-Eaux are missing Tiffany Jackosn
Reims showed their determination right from the tip-off with Mame Marie Sy and Mia Fisher coming up with blocks in the first minutes to open up (6-0). Yet two quick fouls for Zuzanna Klimesova did not help Reims’ cause.
Jessica Davenport (10 points in the first period) profited with the extra space and Challes took control (26-14) by the end of the first quarter. Martina Luptakova’s skill in drawing fouls allowed Challes to maintain their lead at the interval (39-34).
Foul problems for Sy saw her missing a big part of the third period. It was Fisher (who finished with 12 points, 5 assists and 7 rebounds in this match) that was given the task of provoking Davenport into picking up fouls. It worked as Davenport picked up two quick fouls on Fisher and also found herself on the bench.
Marie-Laure Fleury-Kindoki was the beneficiary of Davenport’s absence as she scored more frequently and tied the game (53-53) towards the end of the third period.
The final quarter was end to end basketball with the lead changing at practically every possession. Sy, who hit 9-of-10 from the field, was on hand to score the game’s winning basket for Reims.
Davenport scored 24 points but without Tiffany Jackson, Challes did not have as many offensive options.
Reims, noting up their fifth consecutive victory, will make the LFB news in the Ardennes.
K. B. Sharp is back
Saint Amand suffered their second consecutive reversals as they fell at home to Aix-en-Provence (64-68).
It was a close match that went all the way to the wire. With the game tied (64-64) and 90 seconds left, Sharp, who was having her best game of the season, took things into her hands. She first gave the perfect pass for Magali Lacroix to score just under the basket. Her next action was to block Clarisse Costaz.
It was not one of Costaz’s better games as she was to miss moments later. Sharp picked up the defensive rebound and was fouled. She hit her free-throws to complete her night’s work with 22 points, 4 steals and 3 assists.
(LFB news picture of KB Sharp courtesy of Pay d'Aix Basket 13)
Meanwhile the LFB news from Aix is that Greek International Anastasia Kostaki is on her way back to the club. She played for Aix during the 2005-2006 season before heading off to Russia via the WNBA.
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Shala Crawford completed the home side’s comeback to level the match (24-24). Pierre Vincent, (left) Bourges’ head coach recalled Céline Dumerc and Cathy Melain into the action and Bourges regained the control of the game for good as they took the lead (31-24).
Lenae Williams (left) and Jennifer Digbeu quickly put Mondeville back in charge in the third period and by the time Milica Dabovic made her entry Mondeville had established a 12-point lead.
It was a close match that went all the way to the wire. With the game tied (64-64) and 90 seconds left, Sharp, who was having her best game of the season, took things into her hands. She first gave the perfect pass for Magali Lacroix to score just under the basket. Her next action was to block Clarisse Costaz.
