Spain Uses Third Quarter Rally To Overcome Serbia

Spain 76 - Serbia 64

Both teams began the game nervous and slow in the offense. The score was 5-2 for Serbia after 4:24. Spain fought back and put 6-5 in front after Marta Tudanca executed a fast-break after a Steal. Serbia put themselves back in front 9-6 after back to back baskets but then received a 7-0 run that put Spain 13-0 up with 2:25 remaining. The Serbs improved defensively then and left Spain scoreless for the remaining of the quarter, scoring themselves a 10-0 run Jovana Popovic scored 7 in the spurt) to begin the second quarter leading 19-13.

They started the quarter with a three point play to give them their biggest lead of the half, 22-19. Spain improved its defense then but they struggled in the other end in front of the Serbian defense (Just a 35% in two point shots, and 0 from 5 in three pointers). However, Spain made a 6-0 run (with 4 points from Marta Xargay) to make it 22-18 after 2:35 in the quarter but then they stopped scoring for nearly four minutes. Serbia didn't take the maximum advantage of the Spanish drought and only scored five points to make it 27-18 with 3:30 for the break.  

Leo Rodríguez lead Spain in that last minutes and scored 5 pts from Spain's last eight, reaching the interval trailing 31-26. They didn't also take advantage from the scoring drought from Serbia in the last two minutes of the second.

Spain was more focused after the break. Leo Rodriguez lead the team scoring 4 points in the first 3 minutes of the third from an 8-0 run capped by Vega Gimeno to put Carlos Colinas' girls up 34-31 for the first time since the first quarter. From that point on teams traded baskets but Serbia managed to eventually tie the game twice, both after Sara Krnjic baskets (35-35 and 37-37 with 4:20). After that Spain and Serbia traded baskets but Spain's defensive improvement allowed them adding points to their lead and put in front for good to end the quarter 55-45 up.  

None of the teams would score during the first 1:45 but Spain kept its composure and confidence on its play while the nervousness changed side and Carlos Colinas' team cruised until the end of the match. Serbia got as close as four points, 65-64, with 3:24 remaining but they wouldn't score in more than a minute and a half later and Spain took advantage of that and iced the game  getting back a double digit margin, 61-71, with 1:45 remaining. Cristina Ouviña scored 5 pts in that minutes and Isabel Pérez closed the game scoring the final 76-64 beating the buzzer.

Vega Gimeno had 10 pts and 11 rebounds. Rodríguez was the leading scorer with 17 pts. Cristina Ouviña added 10 pts and 6 assists and Marta Xargay 13 pts and 9 boards.

For Serbia Jovana Popovic scored 20 pts, along with 14 pts and 17 rebounds from Sara Krnjic.