Caffe Moak Luxol and Hibernians sealed their spot in this season’s MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s Knockout semifinals with wins over Valletta Dream and Betsson Depiro, respectively, last weekend.
These victories pit Luxol against Athleta as Hibs’ second win against Depiro in as many weeks sends them into a clash with last season’s runners-up, Starlites Revive.
CAFFE MOAK LUXOL 71
VALLETTA DREAM 41
(23-12, 17-11, 14-4, 17-14)
Luxol booked their place in the next round of the Women’s Knockout with a commanding victory over Valletta.
Luxol’s control of the contest was made clear midway through the first quarter, and the Violets never looked back.
Olivia Wikstrom led all scorers with a dominant display, marking an impressive double-double with 27 points and 20 rebounds.
Vanya Baldacchino and Lisa Fenech Pace rounded out the double-digit scoring for Luxol with 13 and 11, respectively.
At the other end, Shautung Lin was again the Citizens’ best offensive threat, amassing 24 points and going 82% from the free-throw line, while Adriana Caballero followed with 11.
Luxol set the early tempo through Fenech Pace, who opened the scoring with a three-pointer, although Valletta responded well.
Lin sparked a brief swing in momentum with aggressive drives, composed free-throw shooting and a triple as Marie Elise Pollacco hit a floater that pushed Valletta in front by seven.
Luxol quickly settled, however, with Ella Abela surging forward to level matters before Wikstrom seized control.
A succession of baskets in the paint, many stemming from Valletta turnovers, fuelled a decisive run that saw Luxol close the opening quarter in front at 23-12.
The pattern remained unchanged in the second rubber.
Wikstrom continued to capitalise on Valletta errors, while Baldacchino imposed herself with back-to-back scores before knocking down a three-ball to stretch the advantage.
Valletta attempted to halt the momentum through Lin’s finishing in the open floor and a shot from deep by Caballero.
Yet Luxol’s pressure pushed their lead higher in the closing stages of the half, Wikstrom converting on the break and adding a second-chance tip-in as the Violets carried a 40-23 lead into the halftime break.
Any hopes of a Valletta response after the restart were quickly extinguished s the Capital club suffered its worst quarter of the game.
Caballero attacked the basket early, but Luxol answered immediately through Wikstrom and Baldacchino, while Fenech Pace contributed from outside the paint. Roderick Vella’s clan held firm on defence to only concede four points while leading by 27 at the third buzzer.
The final quarter offered little respite. Wikstrom opened with a free throw and a layup, and although Lin briefly lifted Valletta with a triple, Luxol replied through Fenech Pace and another timely Baldacchino three-ball.
Valletta showed heart despite a tough margin to beat, Caballero hitting two layups before a Lin three-pointer. However, there was no time for any comebacks as Adria Xuereb hit a layup with just a second to go to give the Violets a 30-point victory.
CAFFE MOAK LUXOL G. Carabott 4, E. Axisa 3, L. Fenech Pace 11, A. Xuereb 4, J. Said, E. Abela 7, S. Fenech Pace 2, O. Wikstrom 27, V. Baldacchino 13, S. Sciberras.
VALLETTA DREAM S. Lin 24, M. Elise Pollaco 5, N. Pejcic 1, M. Momcilovic, A. Caballero 11, H. Grixti, N. Montalvo, M. Stefanovic.
Referees N. Rincon, M. De Flavia.
BETSSON DEPIRO 60
HIBERNIANS 64
(14-20, 13-9, 20-14, 13-21)
Hibernians edged past Depiro in a tightly contested Women’s Knockout encounter that swung repeatedly before a decisive late surge.
The game was defined by momentum shifts and transition scoring, with Hibs eventually making their efficiency count in the closing minutes.
Hailey McLeod led the Paolites on either side of the court, finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. Josephine Diaby and Steffi De Martino provided consistent scoring threats, combining for 13 and 17 points, respectively.
Depiro shared the offensive load more evenly, with Lovely Sonnier putting up 16 points – grabbing 11 rebounds in the process – while Julia Borg and Julia Borg Xerri followed with 13 and 12, but turnovers proved costly as the Paolites repeatedly punished them in transition.
Hibs made a sharp start, striking early through Macleod at the line before De Martino, Andie Saliba, and Diaby converted on the break to open up an early gap.
Nicole Agius hit from deep and followed up with a second-chance basket, while Sonnier’s three-pointer steadied Depiro after a difficult opening spell.
Despite late contributions from Nicole Borg and Celine Fenech, Hibs maintained control through De Martino and Maria Bonett to close the first quarter ahead 20-14.
Diaby struck first as play resumed but Depiro continued to chip away in the second period. Claire Privitera issued her team’s reply before Borg Xerri, and Fenech struck on the break. Borg hit from deep and Samira Deguara rose to the rim to change leads.
Diaby and Mcleod regained the lead late but it was a lacking quarter from the Paolites overall as Depiro managed to head back to the dressing room for halftime just two points away.
The change of ends brought a back-and-forth battle.
Sonnier and Borg Xerri’s three-balls sparked Depiro, while Hibs responded through De Martino at the line and Macleod in transition. Depiro continued to apply pressure with strong rebounding and second-chance finishes.
Borg and Borg Xerri combined to close the quarter positively, giving Depiro a narrow 47-43 lead heading into the final rubber.
Depiro initially carried that momentum forward as Sonnier attacked the basket and Borg Xerri made it a 13-point lead.
Hibernians, however, began to find their rhythm. De Martino scored on the break before Macleod repeatedly finished in transition, drawing the sides level inside the final two minutes.
Diaby then delivered the decisive blow with a composed finish in the paint, before De Martino sealed the outcome at the free-throw line.
A late response from Sonnier was not enough to prevent Hibernians from closing out a hard-fought victory.
BETSSON DEPIRO S. Abela 1, N. Agius 5, J. Borg Xerri 12, C. Privitera 2, C. Fenech 6, J. Borg 13, C. Portelli, N. Borg 3, L. Sonnier 16, S. Deguara 2.
HIBERNIANS M. Buhagiar 2, L. Micallef 1, S. Lecuyer 2, A. Saliba 8, M. Bonett 3, S. De Martino 17, H. Macleod 18, J. Diaby 13.
Referees F. Ciurariu, A. Attard.
MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s Knockout Semi-finals
Athleta vs Caffe Moak Luxol
Hibernians vs Starlites Revive
