Allemand on Johannes: ''If I can kill her, I will''

BELGRADE (Serbia) - Julie Allemand is a big fan of her future backcourt partner at Lyon ASVEL Feminin, but don't expect that to get in the way when Belgium face France in the Quarter-Finals.

Speaking after the Belgian ace recorded a career scoring night against Slovenia with 25 points and the dagger from downtown during crunch time, she lifted the lid on a pending duel with Marine Johannes that will have women's hoops fans drooling.

"I am really happy to be playing with her next season as she is a great, but now she will also be my opponent in the Quarter Finals and if I can kill her, I will," laughed the guard.

 
"But do I really like her style and it is always very special to play against a team like France. It is now just all about getting one win so we can make that Top Four," she added.

The game will also have special significance for Allemand since it will be a repeat of last year's Quarter-Final at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup when she helped Belgium take a convincing win by equaling the All-Time assists record in the competition. 

And, after a very nervous and tense game against Slovenia, she will have some confidence and momentum having lit it up in the 72-67 triumph.

"I think it is my highest score in the Belgium shirt and I am happy because I had to adjust to the defense as well," reflected Allemand.

"It was really hard and we didn't start the game well. I don't know what happened as we did not recognize our team. We improved in the second quarter but then after half-time it was back to the same as the beginning of the game. 

"We stayed together as a team though and that is what was important in us being able to get the win at the end of the game. I think having the close game previously with Serbia (even though we lost) was important. We had been in hard games before and it meant we were ready to do it again. We managed to stay calm in the last moments," she concluded.

FIBA