In a meeting at the top of the LBWL, Bourges snatched a spectacular victory against Angers (71-69) thanks to a decisive basket from Kariata Diaby (1.93 m, 29 years old) 2.4 seconds from the end. The Angevines, although heroic, leave frustrated but full of hope after having come close to the feat on the floor of the undefeated leader at home.
Angers starts strong, Bourges responds with force
From the start, Angers surprised Bourges thanks to a remarkable 3-point skill, notably with Anna Ngo Ndjock, author of two winning shots in a controlled first quarter (15-20). Supported by an effective defense, Aurélie Bonnan's players contained the Tango and took the advantage in the first minutes. But Bourges, true to its status, quickly raised the bar. Dominant on the offensive rebound, the locals inflicted a scathing 18-2 in seven minutes to get back in front before halftime (35-29). Kariata Diaby and her teammates were able to take advantage of the Angevin blunders to impose themselves in the paint and widen a gap.
A final quarter of anthology
Angers, far from letting themselves be defeated, was able to get back into the match by relying on their combativeness and the talent of Amy Okonkwo near the circle. The two teams went blow for blow in a tense fourth quarter. 4 seconds from the end, while Bourges led 69-66, Angevin captain Emmanuelle Tahane (1.83 m, 25 years old) scored her first 3-pointer of the season to equalize (69-69). The suspense was at its height. But Bourges had the last word. In a perfectly executed action, Kariata Diaby scored a basket just before the buzzer, sealing a victory at the last minute for her team. In the process, Angers had a final possession, but the shot from Marine Dursus (1.76 m, 19 years old) failed on the Plexiglas.
Promising lessons for Angers
Despite the defeat, the Angevines can draw many positive lessons from this match. Limiting Bourges to 71 points at home is an achievement in itself, and the combativeness displayed throughout the meeting bodes better days for the UFAB. “The girls are in tears in the locker room, but it bodes well”confided Aurélie Bonnan to Ouest-France. With 17 offensive rebounds conceded, Angers left too many opportunities to their opponent, but the team proved that they could compete with the best.
The number: 2.4
This is the number of seconds that remained to play when Kariata Diaby gave victory to Bourges, once again demonstrating the experience of Tango to achieve victory. Bourges finished the year at the top of the championship, undefeated at the Prado, while Angers left the floor with a defeat full of promise for the rest of the season.
