Spain sweeps Iceland and caresses the European classification

The women’s basketball team caresses the qualification for the European Championship after sweeping Iceland with a resounding and historic score of 120-54 at the Palacio Carolina Marín de Huelva.

The Spanish team was infinitely superior to the Icelandic team and You only need to beat Hungary on the same stage this Sunday to certify their place in the continental competition that next year will be held in Slovenia and Israel.

The team led by Miguel Méndez, who distributed minutes, authoritatively dominated the match from start to finish and gave a weak rival no options. He asserted his physical and technical superiority and without the need to register outstanding statistics, he managed enormous advantages on the scoreboard, They didn’t stop growing. Araújo with 19 points, and Leonor Rodríguez, with 14, were the top scorers.

Spain starred in a great start to the game and midway through the fourth led 9-1, which forced the timeout of the Icelandic coach Gudmundsson. But the national team continued to be superior, with good shots and quick transitions, weapons with which they extended their lead to 10 points (14-4), led by Cazorla and Conde, with 5 points each.

The Icelandic team was unable to score regularly and lhe Spanish players were relentless in most facets of the game to move to 28-8 with less than two minutes to go in the first quarter, which finished 32-8 with a triple by the captain Alba Torrens.

The rhythm did not slow down in the second quarter and the advantage was close to 40 points with consecutive baskets by Carrera y Casas and a triple by Cazorla (49-12). Finally, the break was reached 43 points up (59-16) after an unstoppable Spanish offensive production, with the participation of many players.

The start of the third quarter had an Icelandic color. Taking advantage of the mistake in the Spanish shot, the Nordics delivered a 5-13 run, with the captain Sara Run Hinsriksdottir as an outstanding player, who did not like the coach Miguel Méndez, who called a time-out. Little by little Spain was balancing the specific situation, although the general score the distance was abysmal and insurmountable (87-38).

Araújo, Ginzo and Conde led the scoring to take Spain with a difference of 50 points before the last quarter (91-41). In it, the set remained even at a lower scoring pace (8-6) with less than five minutes to go, at which time Queralt Casas put 100 on the scoreboard from the free throw line. From there until the end the Spanish recital continued, which was rounded off with a great triple Laura Quevedo for the final 120-54.

Datasheet

120.- Spain (32+27+32+29): Maite Cazorla (8), María Araújo (19), Raquel Carrera (8), María Conde (12), Laura Quevedo (8)-starting five- Laura Pena (7), Irati Etxarri (5), Alba Torrens (9) , Queralt Casas (10), Leticia Romero (7), Leonor Rodríguez (14), Paula Ginzo (13).

54.- Iceland (8+8+25+13): Hildur Kjartansdottir (13), Thora Jonsdottir (4), Sara Run Hinsriksdottir (16), Anna Svansdottir (8), Eva Kristjansdottir (0), -cinco inicial- Isabella Sigurdardottir (4), Dilja Larusdottir (0), Dagbjort Karlsdottir ( 0), Tinna Alexandersdottir (9), Elisabeth Aegisdottir (0), Asta Julia Grimsdottir (0), Dagny Davisdottir (0).

Referees: Marion Ortis (FRA), Arnoud Christian Van Bochove (NED) and Joana Pessoa (POR).

Incidences: Match corresponding to the second qualifying window for the 2023 European Championship of Slovenia and Israel, played at the Carolina Marín Sports Palace in Huelva in front of 3,000 spectators.