Villeneuve d’Ascq wins in overtime

Villeneuve d’Ascq defeated Lyon 77-86 in a tense overtime match in the La Boulangère Wonderligue, securing their second straight win and tying Lyon in the standings with three wins and three losses.

Early lead for Villeneuve d’Ascq

Villeneuve d’Ascq took an early lead, largely due to Bria Hartley's strong performance from beyond the three-point line. They led 20-32 after the first quarter and maintained a 36-45 advantage at halftime.

Villeneuve d’Ascq controls the game

Despite some foul trouble for Hartley, Villeneuve d’Ascq continued to control the game in the second half, with Steph Kostowicz stepping up in the paint. The team held a seven-point lead with ten minutes remaining (52-59).

Lyon makes a comeback

Lyon made a strong comeback, becoming more aggressive defensively and capitalizing on turnovers by Villeneuve d’Ascq. Kylee Shook helped bring the teams level at 66-66 with 36 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Overtime decides the game

Lyon extended their lead in overtime, taking a three-point advantage (75-72) with 43 seconds remaining. However, Villeneuve d’Ascq responded with a decisive 10-0 run, including a buzzer-beater by Anna Ngo Ndjock, to reclaim the lead and secure the victory.

Villeneuve d’Ascq's strong performance

Four players from Villeneuve d’Ascq scored 15 points or more, with Bria Hartley leading the way with 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Marie-Michelle Milapie had the best overall performance with 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks.

Lyon's scoring efforts

For Lyon, Leck-Olivia Yale scored 20 points, and Asianae Johnson added 17 points and 5 steals. Villeneuve d’Ascq's dominance on the boards, with 47 rebounds compared to Lyon's 33, proved to be a decisive factor in the game.

Coach reflects on the game

Maxime Bezin, coach of Villeneuve d’Ascq, reflected on the game, stating, "We would have preferred to avoid overtime tonight. Our production was good over the 40 minutes of regulation time. We did the job and weren't really rewarded. Notably because offensively we lost too many balls with a bit too much waste in my opinion. But it's a beautiful victory for us."

Villeneuve d’Ascq's resurgence

Villeneuve d’Ascq continues its resurgence after a difficult start to the season, with three consecutive wins across all competitions, including a victory in the EuroCup.