Spain Routs Bulgaria

Spain 97 - Bulgaria 57

Spain hit first but right away suffered a 7-0 run in which Stefka Nikolova had 5 pts. Carlos Colinas’ team had problems to make her offense going, however the defensive effort was exellent. That was what made able for Spain to chip the advantage since they struggled in the offense and avoid Bulgaria from pulling away. Spain left Bulgaria scoreless more than three minutes.  

Spain only could get into a one point deficit (9-8) after two freebies from Marta Xargay with 3:38 remaining, but Violina Kocheva and Ralitas Georgieva kept Bulgaria in front with 2:27 remaining in the first. Then was when Spain reacted. They made a 6-0 run and reached the second quarter with the scored tied at 14.  

Marta Tudanca’s jumper closed the 10-0 run which abridged the first and the second quarters and that had been sparked some minutes before to put Spain in front, 18-14, after 1:18. After that the trading returned and Stanislava Stankova got Bulgaria into one, 23-22, after 3:42. Spain took the control then. With a huge team effort, especially in the defensive end, Spain left Bulgaria scoreless until just were 12 seconds left for the interval while scoring a 23-1 run that was broken by Stanislava Stankova to make it 46-25. Alba García scored Spain’s last five points. Her three pointer made it 49-25 at the interval.

After the break Spain, with a great confidence on its game, controlled the game and Carlos Colinas moved his players. A 8-3 run, with 4 pts from Miriam Bolivar, in the first two minutes made it 57-28 and killed the game for Spain however Bulgaria kept on trying to get back into the game finishing the third 73-40 up, and cruising during the last quarter to the end of the game which ended 97-57 for Spain after 5 straight points from Elena Espiau.  

Vega Gimeno had 15 pts and 12 boards for Spain, Marta Xargay added 13, Marta Tudanca and Cristina Pedrals 11 apiece and Miriam Bolivar 10 points and 8 boards.

Stanislava Stankova scored 22 pts for Bulgaria and Stefka Nikolova added 10 and 8 rebounds.