ESB Villeneuve Women — Toulouse Metropole Basket Women: 70:55, French League Women

ESB Villeneuve beat Toulouse Métropole Basket Féminin 70-55 in the French Women's League on Friday. The result kept the hosts in sixth place and pushed the visitors further down to eleventh. Both sides had played 22 games before this one, with Villeneuve on 11 wins and Toulouse on 6.

The home side controlled the tempo from the start. They scored more in the opening period and never let Toulouse get close enough to challenge. The visitors managed to stay within single digits for most of the game, but the gap widened when Villeneuve found their rhythm. By then it was clear the hosts were not going to lose this one.

and here's the thing — we had called for a home win before kick-off, and that prediction came through. Villeneuve's recent form had been mixed, but their defence held firm when it mattered. Toulouse struggled to break through, particularly in the second half when the visitors ran out of ideas.

to be fair, Toulouse did win one of their last five games and showed flashes of competence, but this was not one of those nights. They lost four of their previous five matches, including heavy defeats to ASVEL and Angers. Villeneuve's inconsistency was visible too — they had lost to ASVEL and Angers in April — but they found a level against each other that suited their style.

the draw brought them together early in the season when neither side had much to show for it. Now the gap is wider. Villeneuve sit on 11 wins from 22 games, while Toulouse have 6 wins and 16 losses. The result does not change the table dramatically, but it adds pressure on the visitors who need to find a way back into contention.