WLBL Round 9 (Regular Season): Homentmen lose their first game against Al Riyadi

Here is the last round review presented by LBM Management.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Homentmen (8-1) in Antelias on Saturday night. Hosts were edged by Al Riyadi (8-1) 80-77. It ended at the same time the eight-game winning streak of Homentmen A.. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Al Riyadi made 7 blocks. The former international Rebecca Akl (170-1992) stepped up and scored 24 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists for the winners and American-Angolan guard Italee Lucas (172-1989, college: UNC) chipped in 14 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. The best for the losing side was American center Angel Baker (173-2000, college: Ole Miss) with 24 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Defending champion keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Homentmen.
Important game to mention about took place in Beirut. Seventh ranked Antranik (4-4) saved a 2-point victory at home edging 4th placed Beirut FC (4-4) 50-48 in the game for the fourth place. American guard Kennedi Williams (170, college: Oregon) nailed 13 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals for the winning side and Joudy Harake accounted for 19 points and 7 rebounds. American Chyna Cornwell (190-2001, college: Rutgers) came up with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 28 rebounds for Beirut FC in the defeat. Antranik moved-up to fourth place, which they share with 3 other teams including defeated Beirut FC.
The game in supposed to be also quite interesting. Fourth ranked Beirut FC (4-4) played at the court of 8th ranked Damour (2-7). Beirut FC smashed Damour 86-65 on Saturday. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Damour. The best player for the winners was Chyna Cornwell who had a double-double by scoring 20 points and 22 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Sonia Smith who recorded 13 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists. Damour's coach gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. Newly promoted Beirut FC maintains fourth place with 4-4 record, which they share with 3 other teams. Damour at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the eighth position with seven games lost.

In the last two games of round 9 Antranik was destroyed by Azour on the opponent's court 78-53. Bkennaya outscored Almtayleb in a home game 87-65.

The Round Review is presented by LBM Management. A full-service agency focused on Women's basketball sphere and working worldwide. A global and ethical quality service.

Azour - Antranik 78-53

Very expected game when 7th ranked Antranik (4-4) was crushed on the road by third ranked Azour (7-2) 78-53 on Saturday. Azour outrebounded Antranik 49-33 including 17 on the offensive glass. The best player for the winners was the former international Tina Raffoul (180-1998) who scored 21 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. American guard Sabrina Haines (178-1997, college: Kentucky) chipped in a double-double by scoring 13 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. Four Azour players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was American center Jillian Hollingshead (196-2003, college: Tennessee) who recorded a double-double by scoring 18 points and 12 rebounds and the other American import guard Kennedi Williams (170, college: Oregon) added 10 points and 5 assists respectively. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Azour have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain third place with 7-2 record behind leader Al Riyadi. Antranik at the other side dropped to the fourth position with four games lost. They share it with 3 other teams.
Top scorers:
Azour: T.Raffoul 21+6reb+4ast, P.Assadourian 14+1reb, H.Sabrina 13+12reb+6ast, Z.Elias 10+5reb, G.LeLe 7+12reb+6ast, M.Saneh 6+8reb
Antranik: H.Jillian 18+12reb+3ast, W.Kennedi 10+3reb+5ast, H.Joudy 10+3reb+1ast, F.Leticia 4+1reb+2ast, A.Tatianna 3+3reb, S.Crystel 3+5reb

Homentmen A. - Al Riyadi 77-80

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Homentmen (8-1) in Antelias on Saturday night. Hosts were edged by Al Riyadi (8-1) 80-77. It ended at the same time the eight-game winning streak of Homentmen A.. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Al Riyadi made 7 blocks. The former international Rebecca Akl (170-1992) stepped up and scored 24 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists for the winners and American-Angolan guard Italee Lucas (172-1989, college: UNC) chipped in 14 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. The best for the losing side was American center Angel Baker (173-2000, college: Ole Miss) with 24 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists and the other American import LaDazhia Williams (193-1998, college: LSU) produced a double-double by scoring 23 points and 12 rebounds. Defending champion keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Homentmen.
Top scorers:
Al Riyadi: A.Rebecca 24+9reb+8ast, L.Italee 14+12reb+6ast, M.Naassan 13+5reb+2ast, M.Ghaleb 9+4reb+2ast, B.Sarah 9+5reb+2ast, C.El 6+5reb
Homentmen A.: A.Baker 24+6reb+7ast, L.Williams 23+12reb+2ast, T.Meghry 11+4reb+2ast, N.Perla 9+5reb+4ast, M.Amar 8+6reb+3ast, S.Gabriela 2+3reb+1ast

Damour - Beirut FC 65-86

The game in supposed to be also quite interesting. Fourth ranked Beirut FC (4-4) played at the court of 8th ranked Damour (2-7). Beirut FC smashed Damour 86-65 on Saturday. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Damour. They outrebounded Damour 46-33 including 18 on the offensive glass. Beirut FC looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The best player for the winners was American Chyna Cornwell (190-2001, college: Rutgers) who had a double-double by scoring 20 points and 22 rebounds. Maryam Jomaa (165-2003, agency: BIG) chipped in 30 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. At the other side the best for losing team was American Sonia Smith (170, college: GMU) who recorded 13 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists and the other American import Alexa Hart (190-1995, college: Ohio St.) added 12 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks respectively. Four Damour players scored in double figures. Damour's coach gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. Newly promoted Beirut FC maintains fourth place with 4-4 record, which they share with 3 other teams. Damour at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the eighth position with seven games lost.
Top scorers:
Beirut FC: J.Maryam 30+5reb+4ast, C.Chyna 20+22reb+1ast, P.Destiney 18+5reb+10ast, C.Saade 9+2reb+1ast, L.Mosleh 7+6reb+3ast, S.Fakherddine 2+1reb
Damour: J.Feleccina 13, S.Smith 13+6reb+9ast, A.Hart 12+11reb+1ast, S.Nathalie 10+3reb+2ast, O.Oumaya 8+2reb+2ast, S.Rana 6+5reb

Bkennaya - Almtayleb 87-65

Rather predictable result when seventh ranked Bkennaya (4-4) smashed at home 9th ranked Almtayleb (1-8) 87-65 on Sunday. Bkennaya outrebounded Almtayleb 54-34 including a 38-25 advantage in defensive rebounds. Bkennaya looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists comparing to just 10 passes made by Almtayleb's players. The best player for the winners was Ify Okoro who had a double-double by scoring 32 points, 17 rebounds and 6 assists. Senegalese Aminata Ly (193-2000, college: Fordham) chipped in a double-double by scoring 21 points and 19 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was American Aliyah Matharu (170-2001, college: Baylor) who recorded 34 points (!!!) and 6 rebounds and Mexican Aixchel Hernandez (185-2003, college: CS Fullerton) added 8 points and 10 rebounds respectively. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Bkennaya moved-up to fourth place, which they share with 3 other teams. Almtayleb lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the ninth position with eight games lost.
Top scorers:
Bkennaya: I.Okoro 32+17reb+6ast, L.Aminata 21+19reb+3ast, E.Ghnatios 15+3reb+6ast, P.Khattar 7+4reb+1ast, B.Sandra 5+3reb+5ast, N.Chaar 3+3reb
Almtayleb: M.Aliyah 34+6reb, K.Mathilda 14+2reb+4ast, A.Hernandez 8+10reb+3ast, C.Nour 6+5reb, A.Christina 3+7reb+1ast, J.Nancy 0+2ast

Antranik - Beirut FC 50-48

Important game to mention about took place in Beirut. Seventh ranked Antranik (4-4) saved a 2-point victory at home edging 4th placed Beirut FC (4-4) 50-48 in the game for the fourth place. Strangely Beirut FC outrebounded Antranik 54-31 including a 39-26 advantage in defensive rebounds. American guard Kennedi Williams (170, college: Oregon) nailed 13 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals for the winning side and Joudy Harake accounted for 19 points and 7 rebounds. American Chyna Cornwell (190-2001, college: Rutgers) came up with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 28 rebounds and Rwandan guard Destiney Philoxy (170-2000, college: UMass) added 15 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Beirut FC in the defeat. Antranik moved-up to fourth place, which they share with 3 other teams including defeated Beirut FC.
Top scorers:
Antranik: J.Harake 19+7reb+1ast, K.Williams 13+6reb+9ast, J.Hollingshead 7+10reb+2ast, T.Attallah 7+1reb+1ast, L.Abdallah 3+2reb, L.Fakih 1+5reb+2ast
Beirut FC: C.Cornwell 16+28reb+1ast, D.Philoxy 15+8reb+3ast, S.Yasmina 10+8reb, M.Jomaa 5+3reb+5ast, M.Lynn 2+6reb, B.Thea 0