Spar Girona suffered an 82-79 defeat against Estudiantes at the Antonio Magariños in Madrid on Sunday, opening their Liga Femenina Endesa campaign with a loss decided by a buzzer-beating half-court shot from Isabel Latorre.
Madrid Defeat Compounds European Exit
The visiting side entered Sunday’s fixture looking to bounce back from a midweek elimination in the EuroLeague Women qualifiers at Fontajau. Madison Conner and Carolina Guerrero paced an energetic start for head coach Roberto Íñiguez’s squad, establishing an early 12-point lead in the opening quarter through fast breaks and defensive stops.
Rotations in the second quarter allowed the hosts to close the gap. Estudiantes exploited Girona’s lack of interior physical presence to generate 13 successful three-pointers through inside-out passing, while the visitors relied on a team-oriented offense that produced 21 total assists.
Íñiguez Manages Player Roles as Estudiantes Takes Control
During the closely contested first half, Íñiguez continued to shape player roles within the newly assembled roster. Ainhoa López played a brief three-minute stint in the first half and did not return after the break, while Tilbe was limited to a brief appearance in the second half. Marta García recorded 10 points, strengthening her position as the primary interior option ahead of the Turkish player.
Estudiantes seized control after halftime as the visitors struggled with defensive intensity at the start of the third quarter. Led by the backcourt duo of Cooper and Osma alongside playmaker Laia Lamana, the Madrid side built their largest advantage of the contest.
Girona mounted a late comeback in the final quarter, directed by Iyana alongside perimeter shooting from Guerrero. Iyana tied the score with four seconds remaining on the clock, before Latorre secured the victory for the hosts with a long-range basket from her own half.
Next Fixture on the Schedule
Spar Girona remains winless in official competition following defeats in the Catalan League final, the EuroLeague Women preliminary round, and the Liga Femenina Endesa season opener.
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