The French women’s basketball team once again crushed Finland (117-59) this Monday in Mouilleron-le-Captif (Vendée), confirming its large inaugural success in preparation for the Olympic Games against the same opponent (129-50). The Blues, who had missed their record for points scored in a match by two points on Saturday (131-35 against Tunisia at the 2002 World Cup), gave a recital.
Without Dominique Malonga (1.98 m), rested due to a painful wrist, nor captain Sarah Michel Boury, Jean-Aimé Toupane’s players took ten minutes to distance a limited opponent (26-16 at the end of the first quarter, 58-25 at half-time). Time to adjust their three-point shooting and wear down the Finns with their numerous rotations, often in groups of five players. Marie Pardon, Pauline Astier and Ana Tadic did not participate, as in the first match, and should therefore be the three left out by Toupane at the end of the Vendée block.
A reduced group by July 7
The group of fifteen players will then be reduced to twelve (plus three substitutes) for the Games no later than July 7. With this in mind, full-back Migna Touré scored points after a first period without a false note (13 pts at 100% shooting, 15 at 6/9 in the end). Leïla Lacan also showed her strengths (6 pts, 5 assists and 4 interceptions), while Marie-Paule Foppossi, in the stands on Saturday, was able to show herself (11 pts at 3/7 shooting) in a match from which it is difficult to draw collective lessons given the difference in level between the two teams.
Little seen in the first half, Marine Fauthoux, back on Saturday after four and a half months without playing due to an operation for a slipped disc, stepped up in the second half (9 pts in total), notably with a 2/2 from long distance.
Now it’s time for the leader and her teammates to rest for a few days before meeting up at the end of the week in Lyon for the third preparation match, scheduled for July 12 in Décines-Charpieu against Serbia. An opponent who should put up a bit more resistance to the Bleues, who committed a few blunders on Monday (16 lost balls) and sometimes had poor rebound control.
