Landes Falls Short Against dominant Mersin
Basket Landes suffered a decisive defeat against the undefeated Cukurova Mersin on Wednesday, losing 73-53 in a home game. The Turkish powerhouse,considered a frontrunner for the Euroleague title,proved too strong for the French side,extending thier winning streak to an notable nine games.
Landes initially showed promise, managing to keep the deficit within five points during the first quarter. They even briefly took the lead early in the second quarter thanks to Luisa Geiselsoder’s layup. Though,Mersin quickly shifted gears,fueled by the extraordinary performance of French players Iliana Rupert (17 points,8 rebounds) and Marine Fauthoux,who consistently delivered for her team.
Mersin capitalized on Landes’s 13 turnovers and 18 offensive rebounds, building a commanding 23-point lead by the middle of the third quarter. This advantage remained consistent throughout the rest of the game, largely due to the dominant presence of Natasha Howard, Mersin’s leading scorer this season, who contributed 24 points and 14 rebounds.
This victory secured Mersin’s spot in the Euroleague Final 6. Notably, Marine Johannès, a key player for Mersin, sat out the game due to injury.
Despite the loss, Landes remains in contention for a playoff berth, currently holding fourth place in Group E with a 5-4 record. Their next challenge comes this Saturday against Bourges, the leading team in the French Championship, in the 13th round of the Wonder League. A rematch against mersin is scheduled for january 15th, a crucial encounter that could determine their Euroleague playoff fate.
Breaking Down Landes’ Loss: An Exclusive Interview with Coach Lisa Leslie
Basket Landes’ recent 73-53 loss to the undefeated Cukurova Mersin sent shockwaves through the Euroleague. Today I’m joined by legendary WNBA champion and coach, Lisa Leslie, to break down the matchup and discuss what this means for Landes moving forward.
Welcome, coach Leslie!
Lisa Leslie: Thanks for having me. It was a tough game to watch for Landes fans, but Mersin is a truly formidable opponent.
They certainly are! Landes started strong, even taking the lead briefly, but Mersin quickly pulled away. What do you attribute Mersin’s dominance to?
Lisa Leslie: Mersin’s depth is incredible. They have firepower across the board, and their ability to control the boards, especially on the offensive end with 18 rebounds, was crucial. Iliana Rupert and Marine Fauthoux were sensational, stepping up in Marine Johannès’ absence, but Natasha Howard proved why she’s one of the league’s best players with a dominant 24-point, 14-rebound performance.
Landes struggled with turnovers,giving Mersin 13 extra possessions.How critical was that to the final outcome?
Lisa Leslie: Turnovers were definitely a problem. You can’t afford to give a team like Mersin those extra opportunities.
It’s essentially gifting them points. Landes needs to tighten up their ball handling and make smarter decisions with the ball.
Despite the loss,Landes remains in playoff contention. How do you see them bouncing back from this defeat?
Lisa Leslie: Landes has a young, talented team with a lot of heart.Their next game against Bourges in the Wonder league will be a good test of their resilience, and they need to use it as a stepping stone. The rematch against Mersin on January 15th will be a defining moment for them. If they want to make a serious playoff run, they need to find a way to compete with the top teams like Mersin.
That rematch is certainly a matchup to watch. Coach leslie, thank you for your insightful analysis.
lisa Leslie: My pleasure. Always happy to discuss the game we love.
Now it’s your turn, fans! What are your thoughts on Landes’ performance? Can they bounce back and make a playoff run? Share your opinions in the comments below. Let’s keep the conversation going!
