Victorious by four points in the first leg against Villeneuve d’Ascq at home, ASVEL won by two points in the North (69-71) and therefore qualified for the Eurocup final. The Lyonnaises will challenge Galatasaray.
Twenty-one years after the creation of the Women’s Eurocup, a ninth French team will play in the final! After Aix-en-Provence (twice), Villeneuve d’Ascq (twice), Bourges (twice), Arras and Lattes-Montpellier, it’s ASVEL’s turn to play the final of the second Cup in the continental hierarchy. Les Lyonnaises eliminated Villeneuve d’Ascq in a 100% LFB semi-final, winning the first leg at home and the return leg away.
Victorious 84-80 in their den last week, David Gautier’s daughters went to win 69-71 in the North to validate their ticket, thanks to a huge Sandrine Gruda, who finished with 23 points (10/15 on shots ) and 7 rebounds! The first twelve minutes of the match were very tight (20-21), before Villeneuve d’Ascq widened the gap to lead 32-21 after a quarter of an hour. The Northerners were then virtually qualified for the final , but the Lyonnaises did not tremble for long. In the space of four minutes, they came back to 34-34 and then returned to the locker room leading 36-41.
Villeneuve d’Ascq believed in it…
Villeneuve d’Ascq equalized in turn (46-46, 25th) then finished the third quarter well to lead 56-53. On their way, the Northerners started the last quarter with a bang to have an eight-point lead four minutes from the end (63-55) then another five a minute later (65-60). But ASVEL, thanks to its French internationals Sandrine Gruda and Marine Johannes (who finished with 17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals), had a superb end to the game to equalize (65-65) and finish with these two small points in advance which are enough for his happiness.
Opposite, only one player exceeded 10 points, in the person of Kenndy Burke (14pts, 7rbds). After Bourges last year, it is therefore ASVEL which will play the final of the Eurocup, and it will be against Galatasaray, which had crushed Venice (finalist in 2021 and 2022) by 25 points in the first leg. is tilted 9 on the return. Unlike last season, where the final was played over one match, it will take place over two matches, with going to Turkey on April 5 and returning to Lyon on April 12.
Northern markers: Ben Abdelkader (2), Burke (14), Heriaud (7), Salaun (8), Smalls (8), Diaby (6), Diallo (6), Djekoundade (8), Hirsch (10)
Lyon scorers: Dietrick (7), Gruda (23), Johannes (17), Quevedo (2), Williams (7), German (6), Chartereau (9)
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