Bourges Holds Off Asvel in Close Win at the Prado

The Prado remains hostile territory for Asvel. Sunday, the Berruyères won on the wire (79-77) an eighteenth victory in nineteen home matches against the 2023 French champions, since 2012. And at the same time consolidated their second place in the League standings. women’s after 17 days, behind Villeneuve-d’Ascq which has a victory in advance and has the tie-break on the TBB.

Led throughout the match, relegated to 14 lengths in the first half (42-28), Marine Johannès’ teammates took care of their defense, in particular the withdrawal, after the break to stay in contact until the last minute.

They even had an overtime or victory point after a second missed free throw (on purpose?) by Alix Duchet five seconds from the end while Bourges had a two-point lead. But the back of the Blues (25 points at 8 out of 21 on shots) did not have time to move up the field to place a long-distance shot.

Sarah Michel omnipresent

Back at full strength after the arrival of Canadian medical joker Shay Colley (4 points in 10 minutes) and the return of inside Ana-Maria Filip, Bourges pulled away with quick play, capitalizing on its defense with its captain Sarah Michel still omnipresent (7 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 6 interceptions) alongside Pauline Astier (14 points, 4 interceptions) and Lithuanian winger Kamile Nacickaite (18 points).

Asvel, fourth in the ranking, and already beaten by Tangos at the start of the season (79-58), is now two victories behind – and a negative tie-break on Bourges – on the first two places.

Despite 19 lost balls and 21 offensive rebounds conceded, she offered a good response without ever cracking despite the absence of her two playmakers, Julie Allemand and Marine Fauthoux (back), replaced by winger Gabby Williams, who finished the game with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 7 loose balls.

Lattes-Montpellier overthrows Basket Landes

The zonal defense allowed the Lionesses to hang on to the score in the fourth quarter and even equalize after three free throws from Johannès (76-76, 39th) but Bourges was able to take the lead in the last minute, with a basket from Anete Steinberga, before a missed throw from Williams, to maintain a slight advantage.

Asvel will try its luck again at the Prado on March 9 during the semi-finals of the Coupe de France. But first, David Gautier’s players will travel to Mont-de-Marsan on Sunday March 3 against Basket Landes, also dropped by Bourges in the ranking after its setback on Sunday at Lattes (77-72 AD).

Decimated inside, the “Gazelles” relied on a huge match from Élodie Naigre (16 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists) author of the decisive basket on a left-handed shot after a serve from Romane Bernies at fourteen seconds from the end of overtime, to beat Basket Landes.

The latter, however, had control of the match in the third quarter. But the fury of the BLMA youngsters, notably winger Garance Rabot (22 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 interceptions) got the better of the final rush of the Landaises in regulation time (64-64) before snatching the victory in overtime.

2024-02-25 17:26:48
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