With solidity, intensity, and team play, Spar Girona secured a crucial away win on Baxi Ferrol’s court in the first leg of the Liga Femenina quarter-finals (60–71). The Girona side weathered the home team’s most intense moments of pressure and prevailed thanks to an outstanding collective performance. Guerrero, Tate, and Hristova led the scoring with 14 points each, but the victory was built on teamwork: fluid ball movement, defensive commitment, and key contributions like Sandra Ygueravide’s 6 assists and Lundquist’s 4. The tie will be decided this Sunday at 6:10 p.m. in Fontajau, where Uni will look to capitalize on their lead and seal their spot in the semi-finals.
Spar Girona came out with an extra gear at Baxi Ferrol, setting the pace from the opening tip. With flawless shooting, Girona opened the game with a 0–9 run, led by Tate’s inside dominance and Bobi’s mid- and long-range accuracy. Lino López called a timeout that helped the home team get on the board with a triple from Melia (3–9), but Uni responded immediately—Tate again punished from deep (3–12). Despite efforts from Canella and Hristova and strong Spar defense, the hosts responded with a drive from Joiner and a 2+1 from Millán to close within nine. Still, Tate’s offensive momentum (9 points) along with buckets from Ainhoa and Carol pushed the lead again (8–23). In the final seconds of the quarter, Mestres hit Ferrol’s 10th point, but Guerrero answered at the buzzer to close the quarter with a +15 for Girona (10–25).
Ferrol showed a better offensive version in the second quarter. Despite Spar Girona’s perimeter success with triples from Ygueravide and Guerrero, the home side cut the lead through scores by Sánchez, Pospísilová, another from Sánchez, and Davis to get back into the game (19–31). Facing the comeback, Roberto Íñiguez called his first timeout and drew up a play that ended in a Tate triple, Girona’s third of the quarter (19–34). From there, Spar regained their defensive footing and dictated the rhythm again with vertical, collective play. Ainhoa López shone with a layup and a triple (21–40). Lino López answered with a timeout, and his team responded with a triple from Joiner and a drive by Claire (26–40). Ainhoa ended that run with another triple, but Millán hit back from beyond the arc (29–43). Blanca added points from the free-throw line to bring Ferrol within 12, but Hristova drove to the basket to restore the +14. With just 15 seconds to the break, Pospísilová scored near the rim and Íñiguez used a timeout to plan the final play of the half. Girona handled the full-court press well and finished the half with a Carol basket under the hoop (33–47).
The second half changed the dynamic. Both teams struggled to orchestrate their offense, but Pospísilová’s fast-break points gave Baxi Ferrol a spark. With the crowd growing louder, the hosts went on a 10–2 run to pull within six (43–49). Amid the momentum shift, Spar Girona moved the ball well and freed Sandra Ygueravide for a calm, much-needed triple (43–52). From there, Girona controlled the pace again with organized team play. Carol continued to shine with mid- and long-range jumpers, stretching the lead to 43–57. Even after a Lino López timeout, Spar’s defensive intensity didn’t drop. Íñiguez also stopped play with 36 seconds left in the third after two free throws from Sánchez (45–57). Hristova missed a triple, but Lundquist’s final defensive effort shut down Ferrol’s last chance before the quarter ended.
In a nervy fourth quarter, offensive errors and Millán’s clutch triple and 2+1 brought Ferrol within six again (51–57). Just as the arena roared, a flowing Spar Girona possession ended with a corner triple from Klara (51–60). Pospísilová answered with a layup, but Tate created a fantastic basket to keep the lead intact (53–62). Menéndez then hit from deep (56–62), and with 4:20 left, Íñiguez called a timeout to guide his team through the closing stretch. His words hit the mark: Bobi, Pierre-Louis, and Klara extended the lead again (56–68). Lino called another timeout, but Bobi drilled a triple to deepen Ferrol’s wounds (56–71). Even so, Pospísilová added more points and Millán scored from the line (60–71). With 39 seconds left and Ferrol in possession, Lino paused the game to draw up a play, but Mataix’s shot didn’t fall. Íñiguez used his last timeout with 8.2 seconds left. Sandra’s final triple didn’t go in, but Spar Girona had already sealed a hard-fought 60–71 victory.
