Preview: Chartres Faces Daunting Task at League-Leading Landes

MONTS DE MARSAN, France (Interstat) — A stark contrast in fortunes will be on display Saturday when the struggling Chartres women’s basketball team visits the powerhouse Landes in a EuroLeague Women matchup.

The game at Mont de Marsan pits one of the league’s coldest teams against one of its hottest. Chartres arrives with a dismal 4-13 record across all competitions, mired in a three-game losing streak. Landes, meanwhile, boasts a formidable 22-7 mark and has won seven of its last nine games.

The teams’ previous meeting this season underscores the challenge ahead for Chartres. On Nov. 7, Landes dominated Chartres 77-58. Chartres has found consistent victory elusive since, with its last win coming over a month ago on Jan. 10.

Chartres will lean heavily on guard Jasmine Bailey, who has been a bright spot during the losing skid. Bailey is coming off a near triple-double performance in a Feb. 7 loss to Landerneau, posting 18 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. In her last three games, she has averaged 15.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists.

Landes counters with its own dominant force in the paint, center Murjanatu Musa. Musa is averaging 15.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game this season and is fresh off an 18-point, nine-rebound, three-block effort in a win over Montpellier on Feb. 8. Her presence presents a major obstacle for a Chartres team that has struggled defensively.

The matchup heavily favors the home side. Landes sits near the top of the league standings, while Chartres is languishing near the bottom. Chartres has not scored more than 70 points in its last five games, while Landes has held opponents to 69 points or fewer in four of its last five victories.

For Chartres to have any chance at an upset, it will need a monumental performance from Bailey and must find a way to contain Musa inside. Landes, playing with confidence at home, will look to exploit its significant advantages in record, recent form and post play to secure another routine victory.

The game is scheduled for a 8 p.m. local tipoff on Saturday, Feb. 14.