Tarbes qualify for LFB
Challenge Round final

11 months ago, in May 2012, Cyril Sicsic was happy to be back in the LFB after signing a contract for one season with Tarbes. His roller-coaster season has seen him lose out in the EuroCup Women quarter-final to Dynamo Moscow despite winning the first game in Moscow.

However the biggest drama came during the last five minutes of the last match of the LFB regular season. His team ended up losing the game and dropping from third to fifth place.

So instead of preparing his players for a chance of becoming French Champions, Sicsic was faced with a match against Villeneuve d'Ascq in the Challenge Round.

With a place in the EuroCup Women assured and to win the best-of-three series, Sicsic knew that his team's victory against Villeneuve d'Ascq (98-72) at the beginning of April (round 25)  counted for nothing.

Villeneuve d'Ascq hosted the first game. It went down to the wire after 14 lead changes. Paoline Salagnac (19 points) secured the victory with 2 points in the last second (69-67).

Villeneuve d'Ascq tried to force overtime in the last second with Olayinka Sanni (13 points) missing her second free throw hoping for a team-mate to pick up the offensive rebound but in vain.

The other leading scorers for Tarbes were Kristen McCarthy and Angela Robinson with 17 and 11 points each. For Villeneuve d'Ascq Lenae Williams scored 21 points but the star of the evening was Emma Meesseman with 14 points and 14 rebounds.

In game 2, Villeneuve d'Ascq led for the first 32 minutes against their hosts. But once Salagnac tied things up (55-55) Tarbes charged.

They went into the lead for good with a couple of points by Robinson (57-55) with just over seven minutes to play. The end was messy but once again Tarbes prevailed to win (72-66).

Robinson led the way with 17 points while Salagnac and Jovana Rad chipped in 14 and 12 points respectively.

For Villeneuve d'Ascq Bintou Diémé and Meesseman had 16 points each while Amélie Pochet finished with 14 points.

For Villeneuve d'Ascq the LFB season is over while Tarbes have a chance of listing a trophy they last held in 2008.

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