In a challenger position, the Gazelles host Villeneuve d’Ascq, recent Euroleague finalist, this Thursday (8:50 p.m.) for the Women’s League semi-final first leg.
Nothing to lose. The BLMA welcomes the favorites of the competition, Villeneuve d’Ascq, this Thursday (8:50 p.m.) for the first round of the semi-final. To compete against the Northerners, Lattes-Montpellier will have to raise the level of play displayed during the return match against Charnay (64-75).
A meeting where the Héraultaises were greatly shaken by the enthusiasm of the Charnaysiennes, to the point of being very close to elimination in the last minutes of the game (63-75, 39th). “We didn’t really know the pace we should adopt. We didn’t read Charnay’s defense very well. We should have won more easily.” regrets the BLMA coach, Valéry Demory.
An elimination narrowly avoided thanks to the stratospheric performance of Élodie Naigre. The Guadeloupean splashed the Palais des sports with her talent with 26 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and above all an 84.6% shooting success percentage.
Villeneuve d’Ascq favorite but without his MVP
A record number of points rewarding its high level in 2024. These recent good performances have definitely convinced the BLMA to extend it for next season.
The number: 4
The BLMA remains on four defeats in a row against the Guerrières of Villeneuve d’Ascq. Two losses in the regular season (57-82; 75-83) as well as two others conceded last season in the semi-final of the Women’s League (60-75; 70-73).
Opposite, Villeneuve d’Ascq escaped the Angevin trap without trembling (82-73; 100-91). The Warriors, however, had to say goodbye to their best player Kennedy Burke, who left after the first round of the play-offs for the American championship, the WNBA, and the New York Liberty.
The best player of the last two seasons will inevitably be missed by the Northerners at the end of the season. The latter can still count on a very efficient domestic sector. “We obviously expect a big physical challenge. Inside, they have the advantage over us, where we are in difficulty.” warns the Gazelles coach.
A successful season already?
Despite a reduced squad for many months with six players and a rollercoaster season, the BLMA still achieved its season objective by finishing in the top 4 in the regular season and qualifying for the play semi-finals. -offs.
But the Gazelles do not want to stop there and wish to shake up the hierarchy against Villeneuve d’Ascq to return to a championship final, three years after the last in 2021. They will be able to count on the return of Kyara Linskens, absent since two months. The Belgian international which is not “only 40% of its shape” will numerically replace Elena Zemoura, injured at the start of the week.
In the other semi-final, the opposition will be more open with a South-West derby between Basket Landes and Tarbes. The Landaises remain in a French Cup final lost to Bourges (63-76). A team that Tarbes eliminated to everyone’s surprise in the quarter-finals of the play-offs.
