Because as in Mersin a week earlier, the players of Julie Barennes had however perfectly returned to their match in Italy. Led by a Céline Dumerc (2 points and 4 assists) and Regan Magarity (already) gala (11 points), the Landaises were racing in the lead (6-12, 3rd then 12-17, 5th). But as in Turkey, Marie-Ève Paget and her teammates lasted only six minutes.
A 17-2 that hurts
The Italians, first in the group with the Hungarians of Sopron and who had just conceded their first defeat in the league in Bologna, then put the machine into motion. In particular by Mabrey, who chained shots to 3 points (11 units in this first quarter), to allow the locals to finally take the score and widen the gap (29-19, 10th). Dominating in rebounds (12 to 5, including 4 offensive), the Italians had just placed a 17-2 which hurt the Landaises very much.
The Italians of Costanza Verona remain undefeated at home.
Fiba
On his way, Schio, still undefeated at home, continued to widen the gap quietly, especially after two new long-distance shots from Penna (37-23, 14th). A reaction from the Landaises allowed them to come back to eight lengths, in particular thanks to Mann (39-31, 16th), but Verona and Howard still increased the gap at the break (48-34, 20th). The fault with a much higher efficiency of the Italians: 53% to 41% in shooting, and 56% at 3 points against only 14% for the Landaises.
Schio on fire at long range
After the break, the Italians, who remained on two successes on the European scene, continued to accentuate their advantage, by Howard, Sottanna and Penna, to count up to 19 lengths in advance (65-46, 27th), the biggest gap of the match. Magarity, for a long time the only Landaise to float offensively (21 points and 6 rebounds in the end), and Marine Fauthoux, quickly limited by faults and very discreet until then, allowed the Landaises to finish better and win this quarter (65 -53, 30th).
Céline Dumerc once again distinguished herself with 6 points but above all 8 assists.
Movement
On this momentum, the players of Julie Barennes contained the Italians, regained hope in this last quarter and even returned to eight lengths, with a mark which finally began to be better distributed (73-65, 37th), thanks to Harmon, Mann or Gil. But the timeout taken by Georgios Dikaioulakos was beneficial for Schio. The Italians, impressive at long distance (14/31 at 3 points against only 2/10 for Basket Landes), resumed their ease, in particular thanks to their American Marina Mabrey, on fire this Wednesday (21 points, including 5/7 at 3 points), and their leader Giorgia Sottanna (12 points), who concluded the game… inevitably with a long-range shot (85-71).
The Landaises have therefore chained a fourth loss in a row, the sixth in seven games in 2023, which does not allow them to start again. But Basket Landes did better than in the first leg (58-78) and much better than during his last trip to Italy (96-56) last season. What to find certainties and prepare more calmly for the capital trip this weekend to Saint-Amand-les-Eaux, for a duel at the bottom of the table, in the Women’s League? Answer on Saturday evening, when the need for points is now very urgent.
