Spain Wins In Second Half

SPAIN 67 - POLAND 55

A good defensive polish team stopped Spain from doing its game although Spain put in front 7-3 after three minutes, then the Polish reacted playing the game down under where Magdalena Liecejewska started a 6-0 run with back to back baskets capped by two freebies by Agnieszka Bibrzyca to put Poland in front 9-7 with 4:30 remaining and keeping their noses in front 'til the end of the first,15-13, after a late basket from Anna Montañana who was closely watched by Poland leading Spain though with 6 pts

Spain scored five straight points in the first minute taking advantage of an unsportmans like foul to Isa Sánchez and Evaristo Pérez's team went ahead 18-15 but Poland kept calm and from a strong defense which lead Spain to commit mistakes and give second options -6 offensive boards for Poland in the second. Laia Palau gave Spain its last lead of the first half making it 21-18 just before Agnieszka Bibrzyka sparked an 8-0 run stealing a ball on half court and making the fast break, and capped by  Ewelina Kobryn to give Poland its biggest lead so far, 26-21, with 4 minutes remaining for the break. Spain reacted then and scored 5 straight points to level the score again, 26-26, after a coast to coast basket by Alba Torrens. Then the nerves and the mistakes came back in Spain leading to the best minutes of Poland which took control of the game. Ewelina Kobryn put them back in front with a three point play and from then on teams traded baskets with Biva scoring a late three pointer to make it 39-31 for Poland.

Ewelina Kobryn scored the first basket of the second half but in the ensuing possession Elisa Aguilar hit the three to spark an 11-0 run and capped by Alba Torrens -who added 5 pts in the spurt- to turn the score upside down after three minutes, 42-41. Poland wasn't the same team no more. Spain didn't let. Spain improved defensively and shut off the polish main offensive weapons - Kobryn, Liecejewska and Bibrzycka. Ewelina Kobryn split from the free throw line to give Poland its last lead of the game with 5 minutes remaining in the third, making it 43-42 for Krzystof Koziorowicz's team. From then on only Spain existed. Evaristo Pérez's team worked hard defensively specially Alba Torrens on Biva and Montañana and Nicholls down low, allowing just one basket in the last five minutes of the third (49-45 scored by Agata Gajda), scoring an 11-2 run  started again by a three pointer from Elisa Aguilar, continued by four points from Laura Nicholls and capped by back to back baskets from Anna Cruz to enter the fourth 53-45 ahead and with the game already decided.

Not satisfied yet Spain closed the game by starting the fourth scoring 5 straight points to make it 58-45. Then became trading until the end of the game but Poland was never a threat and their attempt to make a Comeback were useless in front of Spain's defense -where Laura Nicholls did a huge work down low- which didn't relax and fully dominated the game to take the victory by a  67-55 score.

Anna Montañana lead Spain with 16 pts and 6 boards and Elisa Aguilar added 14, with Alba Torrens scoring 10.

For Poland Magdalena Leciejewska had 15 pts and 6 boards, Ewelina Kobryn had 14 pts and 7 boards, and Agnieszka Bibrzycka added 11 and 6 boards.