Spain women’s national basketball team opened the EuroBasket 2027 qualifying campaign on Tuesday with a narrow 73-71 win over the Czech Republic at the Palacio de Deportes in Oviedo, Diario AS reported.
Playing in her home city, point guard Iyana Martín scored 18 points, provided six assists, and collected five steals to rescue the hosts after a fierce challenge from the visitors. Diario AS noted that Martín scored 11 of Spain’s 16 points in the fourth quarter.
The match began with a minute of silence for Juan José Rodríguez, a National Police officer who died earlier that day in an explosion in Oviedo’s Villafría neighborhood. Over 4,500 spectators filled the arena for the Group J opener.
Spain struggled early against an aggressive Czech defense. Karolina Sotolova and Petra Pospisilova kept the visitors close as the score tied at 11-11. Spain then used its bench to spark a 9-0 run, closing the frame ahead 20-11 following a three-pointer by Alba Torrens.
The hosts stretched their advantage to 13 points at 24-11 in the second quarter before the Czech Republic responded.
Holesinska finished with 16 points, including four of five from beyond the arc, while Sotolova added 12 points for the Czech side, according to the box score. The visitors dominated the rebounding battle 37 to 32 over the course of the game.
The third quarter proved disastrous for Spain’s offense. Trapped in a stagnant half-court rhythm, the hosts managed only 14 points in the period as the Czech Republic drew level at 57-57. Pospisilova then gave the visitors a 59-57 lead, their first advantage since the opening minutes.
Czech momentum pushed the score to 66-71 with three minutes remaining. At that point, Martín took over the offense. She hit a three-pointer to narrow the gap to 70-71, Paula Araújo followed with a basket to put Spain ahead 72-71, and Martín added a late free throw while sealing the win with a steal on the final Czech possession.
Spain travels next to face Bulgaria on Sunday in the second fixture of the EuroBasket 2027 qualifying window.
