Spar Girona added another road win after defeating Kutxabank Araski in an intense game (86-95). Roberto Íñiguez’s team started strong, setting the pace from the outset with Bibby’s accuracy, and managed to respond to the pressure from a combative Basque side. Despite the comeback attempts led by Lisowa and Hill, the Girona team managed to maintain their advantage thanks to the stellar performance of Chloe Bibby (31 points) and the final points from Lundquist (15 points). With this win, the Uni needs one more victory to secure a spot in Euroleague Women.
Spar Girona demonstrated how to start a game with great intensity. Right from the beginning, the Girona team passed the ball to Bibby, who didn’t miss her first opportunity from the perimeter. Then, in transition, Lundquist scored the fifth point for the visitors (0-5). Brewer and Manunga responded with close-range baskets, but free throws from Tate and a great play from Hristova kept the lead for Spar Girona (4-9). Bibby hit another three-pointer, but Slonjsak quickly responded (7-14). Mack’s presence on the court was decisive on both sides (7-16), and despite Natalia scoring, a great play from Tate forced local coach Madelen Urieta to call a timeout (10-18). The instructions worked, and Araski closed the gap thanks to the perimeter shooting of Lisowa and Hill (18-20). However, two consecutive baskets by Bibby, free throws by Pierre-Louis, an entry from Touré, and a three-pointer by Sandra gave Spar Girona more breathing room (24-31).
Unlike the first quarter, the second was marked by a slowdown in offensive pace for both teams, with several missed shots. After many failed attempts, Lisowa hit a long-range shot, prompting Íñiguez to call a timeout (27-31). The following play by Hristova missed, and Mununga raised alarms, bringing Araski within two points (29-31). In this context, Migna Touré took responsibility and scored the first baskets of the second quarter for Spar Girona, giving some relief to the visitors (31-35). Despite free throws from Hill tightening the score, Chloe Bibby took over offensively in the final stretch, hitting both from the perimeter and in the paint to maintain her team’s hopes (16 points at halftime, 38-43).
After the break, Araski focused on attacking the basket, and although Bibby hit an initial three-pointer, Mununga brought the hosts to within a point (45-46). The response from the Uni was emphatic: a devastating run from three-point range and with 2+1 plays. Imani completed two such plays, and Hristova added a three-pointer and another 2+1 to open up a ten-point gap (+10, 48-58). Brewer broke the run with free throws, but Bibby responded with another from the line, taking advantage of a technical foul on the local bench and Urieta (50-61). With the atmosphere in Mendizorrotza heating up, Spar Girona kept their positive momentum, and Bibby and Pierre-Louis didn’t miss under the basket (51-65). Despite Urieta’s timeout to stop the run, Íñiguez‘s team kept pushing on both ends of the floor and broke the game open with accurate offense, with Bibby, Touré, and Pierre-Louis scoring in the final plays (56-72).
With fatigue setting in, the final quarter began with a free throw exchange (Hill, Lundquist, and Bibby added from the line, 58-76). Then, Lisowa assumed the leadership for Araski with two consecutive baskets (62-76), but Bibby halted the run with another three-pointer, reaching 31 personal points. However, Mununga, Hermida, and Lisowa led a local reaction that brought the score to a tense 72-81. Íñiguez called a timeout with four and a half minutes left, and the play paid off: Sandra Ygueravide assisted Lundquist, allowing the visitors to breathe easier (72-83). With Mendizorrotza loud and tense, Araski kept fighting, and a 2+1 from Hill and a drive from Lisowa brought excitement to the game (77-83). But just when the locals were rallying, the response from the Uni was solid: Klara Lundquist didn’t miss under the basket, forcing Urieta to call a timeout with 1:33 left (77-85). Brewer quickly reactivated Araski with a fast basket, but Lundquist sealed the win with a 2+1 that silenced the crowd (79-88). After a local timeout, the triple by Lisowa and Slonjsak brought the Greens to within 4 points, and Íñiguez called another timeout to direct his team in the final seconds. Araski tried for a quick foul, but Klara Lundquist didn’t miss from the line. After Lisowa’s free throw, Íñiguez called another timeout, and a buzzer-beating drive from the Swedish player ended the game, with Uni securing a 86-95 win.
