Heavy home victory for the Beretta Famila Schio in the Euroleague. The Italian champions beat the resistance of Spar Girona 70-65 in the ninth day of the regular season (group B), in a very balanced match for almost its entire duration. Sixth success for the Venetians, who remain in the wake of the first in the class, to qualify for the next phase of the top continental competition for women’s clubs.
The authentic protagonist of the evening is Rhyde Howard, who ends with 26 points on the scoresheet. They hit double digits Kim Mestdagh (9 points) and Giorgia Sottana (8)while among the Iberian women the best scorer is Rebekah Gardner with 15 points (9 points for Laura Cornelius).
Drammeh from three opens the scoring of the match (0-3), with Gardner who goes all the way and supports the +5 (0-5). Counter-break by Schio thanks to Keys and Howard (4-5), with Arujo scoring from long range (4-8). Howard responds with the same coin (7-8), with the guests taking a small margin at the end of the first quarter (9-13). The Beretta Famila shortens thanks to Capitan Sottana and two free throws by Astou Ndour (12-13), but Girona continues to stay ahead with Sykes from two (14-17). Two free throws from Mestdagh make it 16-17 which ends the first half.
In the second quarter, the Venetians put the arrow in thanks to Giorgia Sottana (18-17), to whom Labuckiene responds promptly for the new guest advantage (18-19). Zahui evens the score with 2+1 (20-21), with Mabrey’s layup which is worth the new overtaking of the Italian Champions (23-21). Four points in a row from Gardner bring the match back to a draw (25-25), but Costanza Verona from three puts the Vicenza team back in front (28-25) at -4’20” from the second siren. Howard finds the triple of +4 (31-27), then updating the maximum lead to +6 (35-29). Gardner in the line scores both free throws to make it 35-30 with which the two teams go to half-time rest.
Drammeh makes 2/2 with the clock stopped: Girona tries to shorten (35-32), but Howard doesn’t forgive from the arc and puts back two possessions full of margin (38-32). Mabrey penetrates for +8 (40-32), with the Spar relying on Cornelius’ long-range shot (40-35). Schio’s number 10 is perfect tonight: another bomb and +6 Beretta Famila (43-37). Cornelius returns to score from three, allowing the Iberians to make up for it under -1 (43-42). Howard again from beyond the perimeter on an assist from Keys (46-42), with the guests who don’t give up (46-44). Sykes gets a technical foul: Sottana is not wrong in the line (49-46). Martina Bestagno takes care of it with the three-point game to keep Schio above by three lengths at the third siren on the score of 52-49.
In the last quarter Girona tries to keep the match even, scoring immediately with Murphy (52-51). The guests also manage to put their nose forward thanks to Gardner (52-53), with Schio who however responds promptly thanks to the heavy basket by Giorgia Sottana (55-53). Murphy makes three shots and puts Spar back in front (55-56), but four points in a row from a wild Rhyde Howard allow the Vicenza team to put the arrow back (59-56) forcing coach Canut Font to stop the game by calling time out. The landlords understand the moment of difficulty of the opponents and try to raise the pace: the Mestdagh-Verona axis works masterfully, and in an amen the Beretta Famila reaches a double-digit advantage (68-58) to attempt to launch the knockout blow. Drammeh from three tries to shake his teammates less than a minute from the end (68-61), with Kyes who shortens further from the paint to -5 (68-63): immediate time-out from Schio, with a handful of seconds left on the clock. Mabrey makes 1/2 in the line (69-63), with Gardner who scores both free throws available (69-65). Rhyde Howard hits only one shot with the clock stopped, however harpooning the rebound with which the match ends: it ends 70-65 at the PalaRomare in Schio (Vicenza), with the Beretta Famila who can rejoice for this important victory in the Euroleague!
THE MATCH TABLE
BERETTA FAMILA SCHIO-SPAR GIRONA 70-56 (16-17, 19-13, 14-16, 70-65)
Schio: Crippa, Howard 26, Keys 4, Mestdagh 9, Ndour 5, Bestagno 3, Mabrey 5, Penna, Sottana 8, Verona 7, Zahui 3.
Girona: Araujo 7, Drammeh 8, Gardner 15, Labuckiene 6, Sykes 8, Cornelius 9, Etxarri 3, Flores 2, Murphy 5, Tolo 2.
Photo: fiba. basketball
