Fourth Quarter Run Gives Spain A Chance To Qualify For The World Championship

Spain 77 – Poland 65

Both teams started scoring run after run. The first blow was given by Spain with a 7-0 spurt that upset the poles in the first three minutes. Barbara Skowronek cut the run after  3:20 and sparked a 7-0 run from Poland, capped by Olivia Tomialowicz who evened the score at 7 with 5:38 remaining. Vega Gimeno cut the poles run (9-7) but in the ensuing possession  Paulina Antczak sparked a 9-0 run for  Roman Skrecz’s girls to put her team ahead 16-9.  Miriam Bolivar scored for Spain with 2:30 remaining in the first, 16-11. The quarter ended with a Trading, scoring  Alba García the last basket of the quarter from the perimeter to make it 16-14 with 1:12 remaining, but none of the teams scored in that span.  

Poland kept its noses in front Turing the second. Spain tied the score in two occasions. After  3:18 with a freebie from Marta Tudanca, and with 4:04 in the quarter after a three pointer from Cristina Ouviña. However Poland continued controlling the game since Spain’s defense wasn’t left open looks and second chances, not letting Spain score easily and scored an 8-1 run, with Pavlina Antczac, leaving Spain four minutes without scoring a field goal until Alba García scored in the last seconds of the quarter from the perimeter to make it 31-35 at the break  

Back from the lockers Poland continued playing a tough defense that made Spain struggle in the offense, anyway Spain improved its defense and kept Carlos Colinas’ girls in the game. Spain scored five straight points from minute 5:16 to minute 4:36, to level the score at 41 but they wouldn’t score until the last seconds. The tie at 41 lead to a timeout from Poland after which  Klauida Sosnowska scored a three point play with 4:06 remaining and remained scoreless the next three minutes, closing then a 7-0 run capped with two freebies by Olivia Tomialowicz with 26 seconds remaining in the third to make it 41-48. Then, after four and a half minutes scoreless Leo Rodríguez scored a three pointer with 11 seconds remaining to make it 48-44 entering the fourth.

Spain finally took control of the game in the fourth. Spain came in with a vengeance in the fourth, improved its defense and made a 6-0 run to put Spain ahead for the first time since the first. Klaudia Sosnowska levelled at 50 one minute and  a half later, but then Alba García appeared to spark the decisive 16-0 run with back to back three pointers. Spain left scoreless Roman Skrecz’s team for four minutes and a half and after the run his team was never able to make a comeback and Spain won the game 77-62.

Alba García scored 15 pts (4-of-8  three pointers), Cristina Pedrals had 14 points, 4 assists and 4 steals. Marta Xargay added 11 pts, Cristina Ouviña 12 pts and 7 boards and Vega Gimeno 10 pts.

For Poland Olivia Tomialowicz lead her team with 14 pts, Paulina Antczac added 12 and 6 boards, and Klaudia Sosnowska and Barbara Skowronek scored 12 apiece, added the last one 8 rebounds.