The Mirai Euskotren opened the 2026/27 Liga Femenina Endesa season with a 53-72 away victory over Ensino Lugo, powered by an interior scoring and rebounding display from Washington and Faye.
Early Struggles Give Way to Mirai Euskotren Control
The match began with the home side finding a sharper rhythm on offense. Just three minutes into the contest, Mirai Euskotren head coach Azu Muguruza called a timeout after Ensino Lugo carved out an early 6-2 lead. The visitors missed their first three field goal attempts and struggled to unlock any offensive fluency before Faye established position in the post to settle the early nerves.
The pace quickened into a transitional scramble as the first quarter progressed. With three minutes remaining in the opening period, Mirai Euskotren overturned the deficit to lead 10-11, aided by three points from Lara González and a noticeable tightening of the Guipuzcoan defense. The visitors closed the quarter on a 0-6 run to take a 15-19 advantage into the first break, backed by four early defensive rebounds.
Interior Dominance From Washington and Faye
The second quarter served as the main turning point of the afternoon. Mirai Euskotren raised its defensive intensity, locking down passing lanes and keeping Ensino Lugo without a single field goal for a five-minute stretch, conceding only a single point from the free-throw line. The local scoreless drought eventually extended to seven minutes.
Playmaker Ariztimuño orchestrated the San Sebastián attack with composure while Washington commanded the glass. Washington secured seven rebounds by halftime, anchoring an interior superiority that defined the match. Although Ensino Lugo managed a brief 5-0 response sparked by a triple from Zoe to narrow the gap to 22-32, Mirai Euskotren answered immediately to enter the locker room ahead 24-36, capping a 1-11 surge that began early in the period.
Defensive Pressure Secures the Season-Opening Win
The visitors returned from the intermission maintaining their defensive pressure. Faye capitalized near the basket to push the score to 26-45, and the Guipuzcoan defense forced ten turnovers by the end of the third period. A late 7-0 run by Ensino Lugo in the third quarter was swiftly extinguished when Tate knocked down a three-pointer for 37-52, and González followed with a fastbreak layup to cap a 37-60 scoreline at the end of the third.
Ensino Lugo attempted a final push in the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run following a timeout, cutting the deficit to 16 points. However, Mirai Euskotren absorbed the pressure from the free-throw line after entering the bonus with four minutes remaining, keeping a comfortable margin intact until the final 53-72 score was recorded.
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