THIS is the bizarre moment that a French basketball star deliberately put the ball into her own basket.
Point guard Marie Pardon was in action for Landes Basket in France‘s top flight over the weekend.
Landes hosted Tarbes in their final regular season home game of the campaign.
As the last seconds of the first half ebbed away, Tarbes star Magali Mendy attempted a three from the wing.
Mendy's shot cannoned off the rim, falling straight into Pardon's hands with two seconds of the half remaining.
With the three-point attempt having narrowly beaten the shot clock, the buzzer sounded.
Thinking that the buzzer had signalled the end of the half, Pardon put the ball into her own basket.
To her horror the 24-year-old quickly realised her mistake, with her team-mates looking aghast at the mistake.
Pardon's own basket proved to be the last action of the half, and sent Tarbes back into the locker room leading by one.
The point guard's blushes would be spared in the second half.
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Landes produced a dominant display after half time, going on to win the game 90-64.
Pardon scored eight points and dished out five assists in her team's win.
Her 20-year-old team-mate Leila Lacan, who is set to play in the WNBA this year with the Connecticut Sun, scored 26 points and grabbed five rebounds.
After her team's triumph, Pardon admitted that she felt mortified by her gaffe.
She told French outlet Sud Ouest: “I thought there was no more time left.
“It was a professional error on my part, I apologised to my team-mates and the staff, and it was essential for me to redeem myself, to contribute something to the team.
“I was ashamed and it was inconceivable to me that we were one possession away from losing the match.”
Basket Landes will conclude their regular season with a trip to Roche Vendee this Sunday.
