The Niss’Angels secured their first victory of the season on Saturday night by winning at home against Mondeville. A triumph achieved with a score of 78-73 at the end of a closely contested game.
First home game, and the first victory for the Niss’Angels. After their opening defeat last week against Angers, the Azuréennes ensured a narrow but valuable win in front of their audience. Cavigal can thank their captain Romy Bar, who achieved a double-double (15 points, 10 assists), well supported by the club’s new recruit Victoria Macaulay (21 points, 6 rebounds).
The Niçoises minimize the damage
In the first quarter, both teams traded blows. The Niss’Angels, on their part, couldn’t take advantage of a weak Norman defense and missed easy baskets in the paint.
However, led by their captain Romy Bar (7 points and 4 assists in the period), Cavigal took the lead at the end of the first period. 22-21
Returning to the court, the Niçoises struggled to widen the gap. The Normans even took the lead on the scoreboard. Rachid Meziane called a timeout to refocus his team. A beneficial stop for the Azurénnes. They managed to regain the lead (31-30 14″). A short-lived respite.
At the end of the quarter, the Azuréennes’ defense struggled against the repeated attacks from Marieme Badiane. And the lack of spontaneity from Rachid Meziane’s players on offense was apparent. As a result, the Normans finished strong in the second quarter, inspired by Badiane. They gained a seven-point lead by halftime. 36-43
A victory of courage and will
The home team returned to the court with determination. More aggressive in defense and diligent in attack, they succeeded in closing the gap and even took the lead again. (46-43 23”) Timeout Mondeville.
But following this break, the Angels fell back into their bad habits. Lisa Berkani shone on offense and troubled the Nice defense. The home team wore out during the period, and Mondeville regained the lead before the final phase. (54-56)
In the final act, the Leyrit crowd witnessed a physical battle between the two teams. And in this intense game, the Niçoises fared better. Taking advantage of a slump from their opponents, they seized the lead on the scoreboard with four minutes left in the game thanks to a basket from Victoria Macaulay (68-67 36″).
The Angels only needed to manage their lead. They ultimately won with a score of 78-73 in front of a fully supportive audience. The next fixture for Cavigal is Wednesday evening on Hainaut’s court.
