Lattes-Montpellier secured a hard-fought 62-61 victory against Villeneuve-d’Ascq in La Boulangère Wonderligue action on Saturday, October 10, 2026, but the game was overshadowed by hostile crowd behavior near the court. Villeneuve-d’Ascq coach Maxime Bezin and guard Anna Ngo Ndjock condemned verbal abuse and offensive gestures directed at players in the game’s final moments.
Maxime Bezin and Anna Ngo Ndjock Condemn Court-Side Crowd Abuse
The closing minutes of the match at the Palais des Sports saw spectators sitting close to the playing surface direct verbal insults and middle-finger gestures toward the visiting team. Villeneuve-d’Ascq head coach Maxime Bezin expressed sharp frustration during his post-match press conference.
“There is anger because what happens in the last minutes of the match is not tolerable in a basketball game,” Bezin said. “We cannot let people throw clap-claps on the court. It’s unacceptable that there are people at the edge of the court who insult the players, who give them the finger. It’s intolerable.”
Anna Ngo Ndjock, who led Villeneuve-d’Ascq with 22 points, 4 rebounds, 6 passes, and 5 interceptions over 37 minutes, echoed her coach’s condemnation. “Insults and middle fingers are not conceivable,” Ngo Ndjock said. “If you want, do that at home, but not on a basketball court.”
Late-Game Drama Slips Through Villeneuve-d’Ascq’s Fingers
On the court, the visitors nearly pulled off a remarkable comeback after trailing by as many as 16 points in the first half. Villeneuve-d’Ascq guard Stella Colas drew two free throws with just 10 seconds remaining on the clock, holding a chance to put her side ahead. However, Colas missed both attempts, finishing 1-of-6 from the line on the night. Subsequent final-second shots by Ngo Ndjock and Steph Kostowicz also missed the mark, sealing the one-point defeat.
Villeneuve-d’Ascq struggled with 19 turnovers, shot just 3-of-12 from three-point range, and received a scoreless 0-of-7 shooting night from Laura Zolper. Despite the loss, the team’s late surge left them within arm’s reach of an upset against a Montpellier side that coach David Gautier admitted played poorly on offense for three quarters.
How Lattes-Montpellier Secured the Win Despite Offensive Struggles
Lattes-Montpellier entered the contest as co-leaders of La Boulangère Wonderligue after four rounds of play. David Gautier’s squad leaned on resilience down the stretch to preserve their winning record. Sarah Cissé paced the hosts with 14 points and 8 rebounds, while Garance Rabot added 13 points and 6 rebounds. Samantha Breen chipped in 9 points and 11 rebounds, and Romane Berniès handed out 6 assists.
Although Lattes-Montpellier shot just 33.9 percent from the field as a team and hit only 5 of 23 attempts from beyond the arc, their defensive pressure and 17-of-22 conversion rate at the free-throw line ultimately carried them across the finish line.
Match Statistics and Next Steps
The game statistics reflected a tightly contested battle where execution in the margins decided the outcome:
Field Goal Percentage: Lattes-Montpellier 33.9% — Villeneuve-d’Ascq 42.4%
Three-Point Shooting: Lattes-Montpellier 5/23 — Villeneuve-d’Ascq 3/12
Free Throws: Lattes-Montpellier 17/22 — Villeneuve-d’Ascq 8/19
Rebounds: Lattes-Montpellier 37 — Villeneuve-d’Ascq 38
Turnovers: Lattes-Montpellier not specified — Villeneuve-d’Ascq 19
Lattes-Montpellier continues its La Boulangère Wonderligue campaign following the October 10 fixture, maintaining its position near the top of the league table.
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