Coupe de France: BLMA is the favorite against Tarbes but will be wary of a team in form

Depuis son retour de blessure, Marième Badiane réalise des bonnes performances. Midi Libre – SYLVIE CAMBON

Après leur succès en Eurocoupe, les Gazelles reçoivent Tarbes dans le costume du favori pour ce quart de finale de coupe de France qui se tient ce dimanche 21 janvier 2024 à 15 h 30.

Two successes away from a final. The BLMA is two victories away from a trip to Bercy. To do this, Lattes-Montpellier will first have to pass the Tarbes obstacle.
To qualify for the semi-finals, the Gazelles will have to play as well as they did in the second half against the Italians of Sassari (a 46-22 inflicted on the Italians) and show a certain character at home as their coach Valéry Demory hopes, "We are playing at home, it has to be seen. We have the home advantage. It must feel supported by the public."

The Hérault team will see the return of its manager Migna Touré for this match. The French international, absent since the start of 2024, returns to the floor and will surely do a lot of good in a BLMA rotation which was limited in the last matches. "My two injured women must return quickly. The bodies are starting to whistle, we only play at 6. Playing in the 3 competitions at 6 is very dangerous, worries Valéry Demory.

A Tarbes team in very good shape

Opposite, Tarbes remains on three consecutive victories, including one won away at Villeneuve d’Ascq (63-67). A very difficult Pyrenees team to move with the two best rebounding players in the league, Isabelle Yacoubou and Dominique Malonga. "Malonga is very big and Yacoubou was quite simply the best European pivot for years. This is their strength", sums up the Gazelles coach.

The Tarbes backs are not left out either with the presence of the young Carla Leite, author of good performances like during the last match against Charnay (76-67 victory) with 20 points, and 7 assists.
With a first objective achieved with the Eurocup (qualification in the quarter-finals), the BLMA will want to get closer to its second objective, winning the French Cup. "This is the competition that makes playing a final as easy as possible. But you have to be good on the big day because there is no second chance", lectures the Hérault coach. A competition that is particularly close to the heart of the BLMA. Especially since in case of victory, there will only be one match left before the final…

The BLMA group

Alston, Badiane, Berniès (cap.), Jenkins, Linskens, Naigre, Touré, Traoré, Zemoura.

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