“We expect a big physical challenge”, the BLMA in the shoes of the outsider against the favorite Villeneuve d’Ascq

Migna Touré et les Gazelles devront réaliser l’exploit de battre Villeneuve-d’Ascq. Midi Libre – Michael Esdourrubailh

En position de challenger, les Gazelles reçoivent, ce jeudi (20 h 50), Villeneuve d’Ascq, récent finaliste de l’Euroligue, pour la demi-finale aller de Ligue féminine.

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 its 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, until they were 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 imposed ourselves 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 its MVP

A record number of points rewarding its high level in 2024. These recent great 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 de Villeneuve d’Ascq. Two losses in the regular season (57-82; 75-83) as well as two others conceded last season in the semi-finals of Women's League (60-75; 70-73).

Opposite, Villeneuve d’Ascq escaped from 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 inevitably expect a big physical challenge. Inside, they have the advantage over us, where we are in difficulty." warns the Gazelles coach.

An already successful season?

Despite a reduced squad for many months with six players and a roller coaster 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 for this on the return of Kyara Linskens, absent for two months. The Belgian international who is only "only 40 % of her form" 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.

The BLMA group: Alston, Berniès (cap.), Brun, Caetano, Djoko, Jenkins, Linskens, Naigre, Rabot, Touré. I subscribe to read more