The NF1 basketball league had its last weekend in the spotlight before the return of the LFB next weekend.
Only two teams managed to win on the road in a weekend in which seven matches went to the wire.
The CFBB were no match for Limoges
A lot of the players from the CFBB will be in action this summer during the youth European championships and the U19 world championships for France.
However before they change their CFBB jersey for the French jersey they have 13 matches to complete in the NF1 basketball league.
Gregory Halin was able to field one of his strongest sides as most of the players have recovered from their injuries.
The match started well for the CFBB with a trey from Diandra Tchatchouang during the first minute of the game.
Bertrand Parvaud, the head coach from Limoges, quickly made adjustments and his side scored 9 quick points. Limoges with Jeanne Senghor-Sy (right) extended their advantage (20-10).
The CFBB weathered the storm and with the duo Tchatchouang and Adja Konteh outscored their guests (13-5) to reduce their deficit to 2 points by the end of the end of the first period (23-25).
Tchatchouang brought the teams level (25-25) during the first minute of the second period.
Limoges switched to zone and kept the CFBB scoreless for almost eight minutes while scoring 17 points.
Limoges dominated in all sectors and increased their lead by the end of the first half (48-29) to end the game as a contest.
Limoges' control was such that CFBB required five minutes to score in the third period, a three-pointer by Sophie Watrelot. Limoges' lead grew and they went into the final period with a comfortable advantage (68-39) which they increased to win (84-47).
Marie-Frédérique Ayissi and Senghor both scored 20 points.
Suspension by keeping it close
Virgine Bremont was the hero for Armentières as her side overcame Charleville Mézières (60-54).
She was the top scorer with 20 points. But it was her two trips to the free-throw line in the last minute of the game that finally swung the match in her team's favour.
Armentières lost in overtime by 3 points when the two teams played in September. This victory gives Armentières the advantage if both teams finish with identical records at the end of the season.
Illkirch-Graffenstaden was not looking forward to their visit to US Laveyron.
Despite leading from the tip-off they almost allowed their hosts to steal the game at the end.
Aurélie Carmona from US Laveyron started to cause problems for the SIG in the third period. However the SIG's latest secret weapon with Claire Nussbaumber came to the rescue with two shots from behind the arc.
With six minutes left to play the SIG leading (63-53) appeared to have the game won. Yet five minutes later Laveyron's deficit was 1 point (62-63).
The last minute was played out from the free-throw line with the SIG holding on to win (68-.64). Céline Sender-Schmitt led the scoring for the SIG with 23 points.
Strasbourg ABC have had a few problems since the start of the year and have fallen off the pace at the top of the table. To make matters worse Djene Diawara has been side lines with a stress fracture.
When Strasbourg ABC visited Nice last September, their trainer José Ruiz was suspended and Strasbourg ABC lost by 20 points. He was hoping for an improvement this time around.
Nice gave the impression that they were the home side and it took Strasbourg ABC 13 minutes to draw level (25-25). Howeverwith Johanne Gomis on form with 15 first half points, Nice led at the interval (39-35).
Nice fired in a couple of three-pointers during the third period to extend their lead (63-53) going into the final period.
It was the turn of Strasbourg to hit shots from behind the arc in the final period and the two teams were level (67-67) for only the second time in the game with just under four minutes to play.
With a little under three minutes remaining Mélissa Micaletto (right), hit the 17th and last three-pointer of the game.
This shot gave Nice the lead for good. Both sides then continued to miss and turned the ball over on several occasions until Gomis found her way to the free-throw line with less than five seconds to play.
She split the pair of free-throws and still had time to make a steal to score on the buzzer for her 25th point of the match with Nice winning (73-67).
Club
Points
1
Limoges
34
2
Armentières
32
3
Roche Vendée
32
4
Charleville Mézières
31
5
Illkirch-Graffenstaden
31
6
Strasbourg ABC
29
7
Toulouse
29
8
Nice Cavigal Olympic
26
9
Dunkerque Malo
25
10
Etoile de Voiron
25
11
Rennes Avenir
25
12
Ifs
23
13
CFBB (INSEP)
23
14
US Laveyron
23
15
US Colomiers
22
16
Pleyber-Christ
22
Nobody wants to be relegated from NF1 Basketball
Ifs have ended their six-game losing streak with a hard fought victory against Rennes (70-65) . Julie Villain's 23 points point helped them hold off Rennes although Nadja Morgan scored 27 points.
Colomiers had their full squad but were not able to overturn Etoile de Voiron in an epic encounter.
Voiron with 22 points from Cyrielle Recoura won the match (69-67). Rosalee Mason led the scoring for Colomiers with 20 points.
Toulouse who have signed Justine Agbatan since the beginning of the new year found the going tough against Pleyber-Christ.
It was a match where 50% of the points came from the free-throw line, Toulouse managed to hold on to win (76-71).
Roche Vendée's victory (89-83) leaves Dunkerque in no man's land in the current NF1 basketball table (above right), too far back to challenge for the play-offs but not safe enough to escape the relegation battle.
All the results from round eighteen for the Nationale Féminine 1 are listed below:
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Virgine Bremont was the hero for Armentières as her side overcame Charleville Mézières (60-54). 
