Fourth Quarter Reaction Gets Victory For Spain

Spain 70 – Belarus 55

Belarus upset Spain with a 9-0 run, taking advantage that the defeat against Russia was still fresh at the back of Carlos Colinas’ girls. Leo Rodriguez scored the first two points for Spain but her side kept on struggling in the offense, just the opposite as Belarus, who took advantage from Spanish mistakes and lack of concentration to reach the end of the quarter 20-14 in front after a second half of the quarter trading baskets.

Marta Xargay scored a three point play to make it 20-17 and Spain Leith Belarus scoreless for 2:30, however Xargay’s effort didn’t turn into a Spanish reaction and Belarus made another 9-0 run which put them, 29-17, after 4:08 in the quarter.

Spain reacted then.  The improving on the defensive end increased Spain’s confidence. Elena Espiau sparked a 16-0 run leaving Belarus scoreless until the interval. During the sport Isabel Pérez scored 8 points and Vega Gimeno scored the last five to level first, and then to put Spain in front, 31-29 to reach the interval.

After the break none of the teams took control of the game and traded baskets and leads during the quarter –up to five lead changes- after Belarus leveled again the score after a three pointer from Aliksandra Zubritskaya which tied it at 35 after 2:25 of the third.

None of the teams scored from 5:44 to 7:22, with 42-41 for Spain in the score. Finally it was Maryia Filonchyk who put Belarus back in front with a three pointer, 44-42, getting back then to the trading in which Spain got the benefits since they entered in the fourth 48-47 in front after Marta Xargay split from the free throw line with 10 seconds remaining in the third

Spain’s defense improved and make a hard task for Belarus to score but they couldn’t get their offense going and none of the teams scored a field goal in the first three minutes. Marta Xargay made it 51-47, after a freebie scored for Isabel Pérez. One minute later Karalina Padshyvalava made it 51-49.

Then was when Spain’s improvement in the defensive end paid off. They left Belarus scoreless for almost three minutes and a half while they scored a  9-0 run sparked by Leo Rodríguez and capped by Vega Gimeno to put Carlos Colinas’ team up 60-49, and Spain cruised the rest of the way reaching the final buzzer up, 70-55.  

Belarus hit 21-of-54 two pointers and  3-of-22 treys while Spain scored 16-of-38 in twos and  5-of-15 in three pointers. Spain out-rebounded Belarus 49 to 39 and Belarus turn the ball over 32 times for Spain’s 17.

Marta Xargay  lead Spain with 15 pts and 10 boards, along 16 pts and  8 rebounds from  Vega Gimeno, 12 and 9 from Isabel Pérez and 10 points from Leo Rodríguez.

For Belarus Maria Fylonchyk was its best scorer with 10 pts and 9 boards,  Karalina Padshyvalava added 9 pts, 4 boards and 5 assists.