Perfect Spain Add Another Gold

12.07.2015

U20 WOMEN

Spain avenged their defeat in the 2014 U20 European Championship Women final with an impressive 66-47 victory against France in Teguise, Lanzarote on Sunday, to secure their fourth gold medal at this level in five years.

Turning Point: An early 13-0 run, bookended by three-pointers by Leticia Romero and Laura Quevedo, saw Spain establish their dominance at 20-8. France remained within reach of a comeback, however, until their frustration began to show and a technical foul allowed Leticia Romero to grow the lead to 15 from the free throw line with 7:46 remaining.

Stats Don't Lie: Spain punished France's mistakes, and in a game of fine margins, such efficiency was a big factor. The hosts looked after the ball well against the competition's best defence, committing just 12 turnovers. And while France only gave the ball up without a shot on three more occasions, those opportunities were converted into 12 Spanish points.

Game Hero: It was clear from the outset that tournament MVP Romero was simply not going to allow her team to fall at the final hurdle two years in a row. The point guard has grown from her experiences with the senior national team and it shows. She got her team going early on and finished with 22 points in another assured display as she controlled the game.

The Bottom Line: These were clearly the two best teams in the tournament, both going unbeaten on their road to the final. Another chapter is added to the ever-developing rivalry between these two great basketball nations, at all levels, while Spain have now won 44 international women's basketball medals since 2004. The core of this group has also now won gold at U16, U18 and U20 European Championships.

Publicado en:http://u20women.fibaeurope.com/en/compID_FBoLIZ9eGMw1MS4DX8h1D2.season_2015.roundID_10460.coid_huPitqCUHeM2YLngveXEI2.articleMode_on.html