WLBL Round 7 (Regular Season): Al Riyadi defeat Beirut FC in the closest game of the week

Here is the last round review presented by LBM Management.

This derby game ended with only two-point home defeat of 5th ranked Beirut FC (3-3) to second ranked Al Riyadi (7-1) 74-72 on Thursday evening. It was a great evening for American-Angolan guard Italee Lucas (172-1989, college: UNC) who led her team to a victory scoring 25 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. The former international guard Nour Labban (170-2005) helped adding 15 points. At the losing side American Chyna Cornwell (190-2001, college: Rutgers) responded with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 15 rebounds. Al Riyadi have an impressive series of six victories in a row. Defending champion maintains second place with 7-1 record behind leader Homentmen A. Newly promoted Beirut FC dropped to the fourth position with three games lost. They share it with Antranik. Al Riyadi are looking forward to face Azour (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Beirut FC will play against the league's leader Homentmen and is hoping to prove to their supporters that this time they can win.
The game in was also worth to mention about. Third ranked Azour (6-2) played at the court of 7th ranked Bkennaya (3-4). Azour managed to secure a 9-point victory 75-66. It was an exceptional evening for American forward LeLe Grissett (188, college: S.Carolina) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 19 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists. Zeina Elias accounted for 15 points and 12 rebounds. Senegalese Aminata Ly (193-2000, college: Fordham) came up with a double-double by scoring 21 points, 21 rebounds and 5 assists for Bkennaya in the defeat. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Azour. They maintain third place with 6-2 record having just two points less than leader Homentmen A. Bkennaya lost their third game in a row. They dropped to the sixth position with four games lost. They share it with NSA. Azour will play against league's second-placed Al Riyadi in Beirut in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Bkennaya will play on the road against Antranik (#4) in Beirut and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
A very close game took place in between Damour and Almtayleb. Eighth ranked Damour (2-6) got a very close home victory over 9th ranked Almtayleb (1-7). Damour managed to escape with a 1-point win 68-67 in the game for the eighth place. Alexa Hart fired a double-double by scoring 14 points, 20 rebounds and 4 blocks for the winners. Damour's coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. Aliyah Matharu produced 34 points (!!!) and 6 rebounds for lost side. Newly promoted Damour maintains eighth place with 2-6 record. Almtayleb lost their fourth game in a row. They keep the ninth position with seven games lost. Damour will meet at home bottom-ranked Lebanese U18 (#10) in the next round. Almtayleb will play against NSA and hope to win that game.

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Bkennaya - Azour 66-75

The game in was also worth to mention about. Third ranked Azour (6-2) played at the court of 7th ranked Bkennaya (3-4). Azour managed to secure a 9-point victory 75-66. It was an exceptional evening for American forward LeLe Grissett (188, college: S.Carolina) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 19 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists. Zeina Elias accounted for 15 points and 12 rebounds for the winning side. Senegalese Aminata Ly (193-2000, college: Fordham) came up with a double-double by scoring 21 points, 21 rebounds and 5 assists and Ify Okoro added 20 points and 4 steals respectively for Bkennaya in the defeat. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Azour. They maintain third place with 6-2 record having just two points less than leader Homentmen A. Bkennaya lost their third game in a row. They dropped to the sixth position with four games lost. They share it with NSA. Azour will play against league's second-placed Al Riyadi in Beirut in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Bkennaya will play on the road against Antranik (#4) in Beirut and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Azour: G.LeLe 19+11reb+6ast, H.Sabrina 18+4reb, Z.Elias 15+12reb+1ast, T.Raffoul 9+7reb+6ast, P.Assadourian 7+3reb+1ast, M.Saneh 5+3reb+1ast
Bkennaya: A.Ly 21+21reb+5ast, O.Ify 20+3reb+3ast, S.Beddawi 11+1reb+8ast, G.Elsy 6+4reb+5ast, H.Serena 3+4reb+1ast, K.Pia 3+2reb+1ast

Beirut FC - Al Riyadi 72-74

This derby game ended with only two-point home defeat of 5th ranked Beirut FC (3-3) to second ranked Al Riyadi (7-1) 74-72 on Thursday evening. It was a great evening for American-Angolan guard Italee Lucas (172-1989, college: UNC) who led her team to a victory scoring 25 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. The former international guard Nour Labban (170-2005) helped adding 15 points. At the losing side American Chyna Cornwell (190-2001, college: Rutgers) responded with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 15 rebounds and Dean Kahlajah produced a double-double by scoring 14 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists. Four Beirut FC players scored in double figures. Al Riyadi have an impressive series of six victories in a row. Defending champion maintains second place with 7-1 record behind leader Homentmen A. Newly promoted Beirut FC dropped to the fourth position with three games lost. They share it with Antranik. Al Riyadi are looking forward to face Azour (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Beirut FC will play against the league's leader Homentmen and is hoping to prove to their supporters that this time they can win.
Top scorers:
Al Riyadi: L.Italee 25+9reb+4ast, N.Labban 15+3reb+3ast, C.El 12+6reb+3ast, B.Sarah 8+5reb+3ast, M.Ghaleb 7+6reb+1ast, M.Barakat 4+1reb+1ast
Beirut FC: M.Jomaa 22+7reb+2ast, C.Cornwell 18+15reb+2ast, K.Dean 14+7reb+10ast, M.Lynn 10+2reb+5ast, S.Celine 6+2reb+1ast, S.Yasmina 2+3reb

Damour - Almtayleb 68-67

A very close game took place in between Damour and Almtayleb. Eighth ranked Damour (2-6) got a very close home victory over 9th ranked Almtayleb (1-7). Damour managed to escape with a 1-point win 68-67 in the game for the eighth place. Damour outrebounded Almtayleb 47-31 including 33 on the defensive glass. American Alexa Hart (190-1995, college: Ohio St.) fired a double-double by scoring 14 points, 20 rebounds and 4 blocks for the winners. Her fellow American import Sonia Smith (170, college: GMU) chipped in 23 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Smith is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Damour's coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. American Aliyah Matharu (170-2001, college: Baylor) produced 34 points (!!!) and 6 rebounds and Nour Chahine added 7 points and 11 rebounds respectively for lost side. Newly promoted Damour maintains eighth place with 2-6 record. Almtayleb lost their fourth game in a row. They keep the ninth position with seven games lost. Damour will meet at home bottom-ranked Lebanese U18 (#10) in the next round. Almtayleb will play against NSA and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Damour: S.Sonia 23+6reb+4ast, N.Sevadjian 16+6reb+6ast, H.Alexa 14+20reb+2ast, T.Kambriss 5+2reb+1ast, R.Safi 5+8reb+2ast, M.Chahoud 3+1reb
Almtayleb: M.Aliyah 34+6reb, K.Mathilda 12+4reb+2ast, A.Hernandez 8+2reb+3ast, C.Nour 7+11reb+3ast, A.Christina 6+8reb+4ast, J.Nancy 0