France Edges Spain

France 62 – Spain 58

France hit first with a 9-2 run in the first four minutes. Spain’s offense struggled in front of the tough Franch defense that in the offensive end lean into Allison Vernerey, who forced fouls in the paint, although she wasn’t hot from the line, and Diandra Tchatchouang who scored easily.  

It took Spain three minutes making it 4-9, after a laying from Marta Tudanca, which sparked a 9-0 run that closed the gap to one point, 13-12, after a three point play from Leo Rodríguez with 1:01 remaining in the first but Spain didn’t complete the comeback and France scored again and finished the first ten ahead, 16-12. Both teams were playing an uptempo game, very aggressive in the defensive end but failing to score in the offensive end since both teams tried to solve the offense quickly.

France scored a 6-0 run sparked late in the first and capped by a three point play from Diandra Tchoutchuang. After the play Carlos Colinas called time out and Marta Tudanca scored immediately after and the Trading began, being Diandra Tchatchouang the go to player of the French and who scored the next six points for France.  

Spain switched defences in search of the one that made things harder for France. Spain’s defensive improvement put them into a two point deficit, 33-31, after a layup from Cristina Ouviña with 1:03 remaining, but Isabelle Strunc answered right after from the perimeter, making it 36-31 with 46 seconds remaining for the break and nobody would score again.

Spain played zone defense in the second half and the French offense struggled. Allison Vernerey scored two freebies and Spain made a 7-0 run right after with a three pointer from Alba García, and four straight points from Crisitna Ouviña. The second two came after a steal, and Spain tied the score at 38, after 2:40. Mèdélomé scored for France after two minutes, making it 38-40.

Vega Gimeno would level again in the next offense but then France scored four straight points to recover the lead and would keep ahead until the end of the quarter, after tradind baskets with Spain, whose zone defense made it really tough for Gregory Haliin’s girls. Leo Rodríguez put her team 44-43 behing with 44-43 and 4:40 remaining.

After Leo Rodríguez made it 47-50 with 2:·4 to the end of the game, the nervousness appeared and none of the teams scored until the final seconds. Diandra Tchatchouang kept leading the team and being the go to player, making it 47-52 with 27 seconds remaining, answering Leo Rodriguez one more time with a driving and closing the scoring Margaux Okou ZouZouo making it 54-49 at the end of the third.  

Spain maintained the zone, switching to a 1-3-1 defense. France defended half court while in the offense both teams were nervous and they didn’t score easily. However spain took advantage of its defense and closed the gap to finally level again the score with 3:21 remaining to the end of the game after a Marta Xargay basket that levelled tha game at 56 after three and a half minutes in which none of the teams scored.

Allison Vernerey put France in Front, 60-56, with 1:11 remaining, after two minutes of upsetting for both teams. Spain wasn’t ready to give in and Carlos Colinas switched his defense to individual. Marta Tudanca made it 58-60. France missed the ensuring possession and Vega Gimeno fought for a rebound to give Spain the chance to tie again with 32 seconds remaining but they missed and fouled Diandra Tchatchouang, who iced the game from the free throw line and claim the victory for France, 62-58.

Diandra Tchatchouand scored 23 and grabbed 8 rebounds and Allison Vernerey added16 points and 18 rebounds.  

For Spain Leo Rodríguez had 12 points and Cristina Ouviña added 10.