Trophée Féminin : Ouistreham down the SIG

In a tight match that went to the wire AJS Ouistreham (NF2) had the last word as their inside game was more than enough to combat the perimeter shooting from the SIG (NF2).

The match itself was no classic but contained the necessary ingredients for a cup final. The SIG was the first team out of the starting block and thanks to some clutch shooting from Aline Fischbach as they opened up an early lead (12-4).
Rachel Goutiére then came into action and scored 6 quick points as Ouistreham came storming back to within two points before the SIG regained control and maintained their advantage (20-13) after 8 minutes of play. This was key for the Quistreham revolt and they finished the first period with a 9-0 to lead the match (20-22). Goutiére scored 11 of her teams 22 points.

The SIG struggled to contain the inside game of their opponents and found it difficult penetrating the zone defence and soon found themselves trailing (26-34) before their coach Philippe Breitenbucher called a time out. His solution was simple, he brought Claire Terrin into attack and her response was a couple of 3-pointers. The SIG was back in with a shout and eventually took the lead from veteran guard Hélène Kuissu at the interval (37-36)

The third period was a tight affair as both sides demonstrated their defensive qualities. The lead changed several times as neither side was able to make the break and it was the ladies from the SIG that went into the final period leading by two-points (51-49) which they had increased to five points (57-52) after 36 minutes. It was now the turn of Quistreham head coach Anne-Laure Coudray to put her house in order. The turn around was immediate with Goutiére and Leslie Veron dominating the paint and Marie Drouault and Julie Legoupil regaining their shooting touch as they regained the lead (63-61). With the game into money time, the SIG struck first with team 3-pointer number 10 from Héléne Kuissu (63-64). Ouistreham then went on to score their remaining points from the free throws line in a very scrappy but entertaining last minute that resulted in a couple of players from the SIG fouling out. The SIG had the chance to take the game into overtime with the very last attack of the match but for reasons best known to them did not attempt to shoot a 3 but instead took only a 2-pointer which was not enough.



(Rachel Goutiére MVP)

(Pictures courtesy of Bellenger/IS/FFBB)

AJS Ouistreham 67-66 Strasbourg Illkirch Graffenstaden :

Ouistreham : Goutière (28), Legoupil (9), Veron (8), Ducos (7), Masson (5), Drouault (4), Poulain (4), Osouf (2), Lemaire (-), Gérard (-).
Strasbourg Illkirch Graffenstaden : Fischbach (16), Nestor (13), Kuissu (12), Terrin (8), Schultz (7),Battaglia (6), Heitz (4), Bastian (-), Puc (-), Boissinot (DNP).