The HD Marines W side pulled off a gritty 52–49 road victory over MT Setif Women in Algeria's National A Women league on June 3, 2026, in a contest defined by defensive intensity and clutch execution in the final minutes. The narrow three-point margin underscores how tightly contested the match was, with neither team able to build a commanding lead throughout the night.

Match Overview

From the opening tip, both teams displayed disciplined half‑court schemes, making scoring difficult for long stretches. MT Setif Women, playing in front of their home crowd, leaned on patient ball movement and mid‑range looks, while HD Marines W countered with aggressive on‑ball pressure and transition opportunities. The first half ended with the visitors holding a slim 27–24 advantage, setting the stage for a taut second half.

The third quarter saw MT Setif tighten their defensive rotations, forcing several turnovers and converting them into fast‑break points. They briefly took a 40–38 lead early in the fourth, but HD Marines responded with a 7‑0 run keyed by a pair of three‑pointers from their backcourt. MT Setif fought back to tie the game at 49‑49 with under two minutes remaining, only to see HD Marines’ defense hold firm and produce the game‑winning basket in the final seconds.

Key Moments

• Defensive stand (4th quarter, 1:30 left): HD Marines forced a shot‑clock violation on MT Setif’s possession, regaining possession with the score tied.
• Clutch free throws: After a timeout, HD Marines’ guard calmly sank two free throws with 12 seconds left to make it 51–49, then added another from the stripe after a foul on the inbound.
• Last‑second miss: MT Setif had a chance to force overtime, but a contested three‑point attempt at the buzzer rimmed out, sealing the road win.

Standout Players

For HD Marines W, the backcourt duo of Amel Benali and Yasmine Djerbi combined for 28 points, with Benali leading all scorers at 16 points while adding five rebounds and three steals. Djerbi’s timely three‑point shooting in the fourth quarter proved decisive. On the MT Setif side, center Fatima Zohra Ouali was a force inside, finishing with a double‑double of 14 points and 12 rebounds, but she received insufficient help from the perimeter shooters, who shot just 3‑of‑17 from beyond the arc.

Season and Table Impact

The victory improves HD Marines W’s record, strengthening their position in the middle of the National A Women standings. For MT Setif, the home loss is a missed opportunity to climb into the top half. With playoff spots still up for grabs, every result carries significant weight, and this hard‑fought contest demonstrated the competitive depth of the Algerian women’s basketball league. Both teams will look to build on the lessons learned when they meet again later in the season.