Villeneuve d’Ascq took the lead over Basket Landes (70-66) on Saturday in Mont-de-Marsan in the first leg of the French Women’s Championship and will be able to conclude on Friday (8:45 p.m.) in the North. Trailing by 14 points, Rachid Meziane’s players were close to conceding their first setback in the play-offs before overthrowing the Montoises, beaten for the first time this season at home by a French team.
This François-Mitterrand space had until then not smiled on the Northerners, who had lost there in the regular season (66-64) as well as in the Euroleague (80-71). Villeneuve d’Ascq, finalist of the Euroleague last month, is only one match away from a first title since 2017. If the final is not sealed next Friday, a support match will be played on following Sunday, in the North too.
The pivot Kariata Diaby, leaving for Bourges at the end of the season, swung the game towards Villeneuvoises by not trembling on the throwing line.
The Ivorian converted two free throws 44 seconds from the buzzer to give the Northerners two possessions in advance (70-66). Previously, it had allowed them to break away by obtaining the foul, and a throw, while finding the nets (68-65).
On the downside, Rachid Meziane lost two valuable players in the rotations: Belgian winger Maxuella Lisowa-Mbaka, injured in an ankle in the first quarter, then his compatriot inside Bethy Monunga, for the same reasons, in the last five minutes.
Great hope of French basketball, winger Janelle Salaün, on her way to Schio in Italy, delivered a solid match. Valuable in defense as well as behind the line, she came close to a double-double with 10 pts (2/2 three-pointers), 8 rebounds and three interceptions.
