BLMA: the Gazelles travel to Lyon for a first real test in Wonderligue
|Hortense Limouzin devra mener les Gazelles à la victoire. MaxPPP – Giacomo Italiano
Après deux succès initiaux à Charnay et face à Landerneau, le BLMA veut confirmer sa bonne forme, sur le parquet de Lyon, un des favoris, ce dimanche à 16h30.
Lattes-Montpellier has ambitions this season, as it has for the last ten seasons. “We want to reach several finals, initially, not to say that we want to win a title”, explained president Olivier Ribotta before the start of the season.
This Sunday, on the court of a Mado-Bonnet that the former manager of Asvel knows well, the Héraultaises will face one of the big names in the championship: Asvel Lyon. The start of the season was successful for Valéry Demory and his players with victories in Charnay, narrowly (73-76) and at home, with more authority against Landerneau (75-59).
If the credo is clearly defensive this year, on the Lattes-Montpellier side, there is still progress to be made to do on the offensive aspect, according to the coaching staff. “If we have an area of progression to have, it is really on the attack, we are able to score more points, we have the talent for", announces Ahmed Mbombo Njoya, assistant coach.
The Lyonnaises, also holders of a flawless record by winning against Roche Vendée (89-68) and against diminished champions, in Villeneuve d'Ascq (57-69), strolled during the week during the opening of the Eurocup. In Cyprus, against Limassol, the Rhone women did not lose a feather (44-97) unlike the BLMA who, despite their success in Lithuania (62-74), seem to have lost Garance Rabot, victim of a twisted left ankle.
To stop the formidable Laura Quevedo-Dominique Malonga racket, the pivots Dulcy Fankam, at the rendezvous in her first matches and Marie-Michelle Milapie, at ease this week in Klaipeda (20 points), will be important.
“We are improving”
The BLMA could make the difference in the back positions where Asvel no longer has the same qualities as a few seasons ago without German, Johannes or Williams. Captain Romane Berniès now shares the lead with the experienced Spaniard Ana Suarez, 37 this week, and the very dynamic Hortense Limouzin. A 3×3 basketball player, the former Saint-Amand point guard believes that “it's a luxury to be able to be accompanied by these two players, to be on the court with them at the same time.”
“It's both a relief and a way of highlighting my way of playing. They are very respectful girls who really want us to push ourselves upwards, adds Limouzin. I think they can teach me as much as I can teach them too, we're getting better, it's cool." Sunday afternoon, the light will have to come from Hortense and her two buddies.
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