60-65: Spain takes the first step towards the World Cup with a long-suffering victory against Germany
The Spanish women’s team took to the court for the first time to take its first step on the road to the World Cup, which will be held from September 4 to 13 in Berlin. Spain surpassed Germany (60-65) in a match played in the German town of Luisburgo that served to get the first impressions of two teams that will meet again on the first day of the championship.
It took Spain almost six minutes to score their first basket in the game. Without success, although showing a good competitive level at the back, Miguel Méndez’s team did not enter the game well and the coach stopped the match immediately. Iyana’s entry Martin and Alba Torrens The court slightly woke up the team, which finished the first quarter behind on the scoreboard (13-11).
The Spanish team, without Awa Fam, Raquel Carrera, Alicia Flórez, María Conde and Megan Gustafson, continued to be blocked in attack, accumulating errors in shooting and numerous turnovers. Maria Gülich He did damage in the paint in a game in which the first triple did not arrive until four minutes before halftime, the work of Txell Alarconwhile Martha Garcia He wore the absolute shirt for the first time.
Neither team easily found its way to the basket. A triple and two practically consecutive layups from Iyana Martin shook up the final stretch of a low-scoring first half and allowed Spain leaving ahead on the scoreboard for the first time (27-29). Germany also faced the match with important WNBA absences, such as Satou and Nyara Sabally, Leonie Fiebich and Frieda Bühner.
To the rhythm of Alexis Petersonsigning from Valencia Basket, the German team tried to regain the advantage after passing through the locker room. Spain improved on the rebound and managed to find a little more fluidity, although it still did not find the necessary percentages from the outside to escape in the match.
The last quarter involved a give and take of actions in both rings. A triple from Emily Bessoir put Germany ahead (52-50) with four minutes left, but Aina Ayuso He responded immediately with another shot from the three-point line. With hardly any difference on the scoreboard, the first open-door friendly was decided in the final stages of the match.
A 2+1 from Iyana Martin He launched Spain towards victory. The young promise from Oviedo, with 19 points, put the team on his back. Luisa Geiselsöder reduced the gap for Germany, but a basket by Paula Ginzo finished getting the match back on track and allowed the Spanish to close their first preparation test with victory.
After this triumph on German soil, Spain will continue its preparation for the World Cup with two new friendlies in Tenerife, on August 21 and 23, against Nigeria and Belgium. Subsequently, Miguel Méndez’s team will travel to Zaragoza, where they will play two other matches on August 29 and 30 against Mali and China.
