Magec Tías "Against Gender Violence" joined together more than ever to win the match against Ausarta Barakaldo, add the first victory of 2021 and add morale points to believe in the possibilities of avoiding relegation.
The team, coached by the trio of Leocadio Pérez, Cristo González and Jesús García, came out with great intensity from the beginning, surprising the rival who struggled to find clear shots against a very pressing defense and a very successful attack, both in fast plays and in static actions, including three-point shots, where they managed to make 4 out of 4, dominating all the facets that could occur during the first ten minutes.
The rotations on the bench, despite the absences of Carla Medina and Natalia García, were continuous and effective, without noticing the changes made by the local bench, signing a total of 26 to 12 that foreshadowed good news for the island team.
In the second quarter, the forces were even, but that did not stop it from being a quarter with points, adding a total of 49 between the two teams. Alberto Cea's team began to see the basket from the outside, while inside Ijeoma Uchendu gave the local team headaches, especially when Carla Escuert added her third personal foul and was substituted. Maimouna Haidara began to appear, a junior who showed enough skill to defend her own board tooth and nail and look for rebounds on the opponent's board as if her life depended on each of the balls. Carolina Mateo and María Esperanza Delgado, inside and outside the paint, found points again, while the speed that was imprinted on the plays and the defensive solidity continued to define a match with local color, reaching halftime with the score of 50 to 37.
The local coaching staff congratulated their players for the work done, but nothing had been achieved and the rival team would continue to increase the intensity of the match in order to turn the result around. The success of the Magec Tías' distant shots was lost and, on the contrary, the visitors were gaining confidence in their successes. The Lanzarote team strengthened under the hoops, both in defense and attack, maintaining the pulse proposed by HGB Ausarta Barakaldo without giving in on the scoreboard, allowing them to gain more and more confidence in the work being done.
Camille Giardina, the Italian-American player who arrived in the winter market, began to join the party under the board, collaborating with Maimouna in capturing balls and making it more difficult for the rival to have second-chance opportunities. With 10 minutes to go, the score reflected 66 to 55, but it was not the first time that the Lanzarote team had let a game slip away in the last quarter, so they had to be cautious and continue working.
The Basque team managed to reduce the difference at the beginning of the quarter, which forced Leocadio Pérez to call a timeout to avoid scares and reorganize the concepts. The strong defense imposed by the visitors was being a problem when it came to getting the ball out, in plays that often bordered on personal fouls. It was of little use because Magec Tías "Against Gender Violence" showed integrity and knew how to fight against the adversities that were being generated.
Maimouna Haidara was establishing herself in the match as the minutes passed, managing to get into double-double numbers, being a real problem for the rival team, which was overwhelmed by the 'sporting insolence' of a junior who aims high. The minutes of the match went by and the intensity of the rival was being stopped by the locals with their heads to get out of the defensive pressure to which they were being subjected and in attack to play with enough clarity to handle the ball long enough for the perfect play to end up appearing in the last seconds of possession.
That's how the final moments arrived and the whole team already had reasons to start smiling, from those who were on the court to those who were off it, from the coaching staff to those who were following the match from a distance. The second victory of the season arrived, 85 to 74, just what a squad needs that since the beginning of the campaign has fought for permanence and now sees it a little closer.
Next week Magec Tías has a double date, playing on Saturday with Ibaizabal the match of the day that corresponds to them and on Sunday, after 7 hours on the road, the match against Rosalía, postponed from day 10.
Technical Sheet
Magec Tías "Against Gender Violence" (85): Regina Gómez (9), Samira Olano (3), Carolina Mateo (19), Carla Escuert (3) and Camille Girdina (21). Also played Sara Duarte, Iranzu Drake, Maimouna Haidara (17), María Esperanza Delgado (13) and Noelia Lago
HGB Ausarta Barakaldo (74): Aitana Vergara, Nicole Murugarren (7), María Romero (3), Ijeoma Uchendu (30) and Laura Chahouur (13). Also played Eva Ortega, Alexis Lewis (2), Emma Karamovic (13), Beatriz Torres (2) and Bintou Lo Sylla (4).
Referees: Christian Meira González and Sergio Palazón Ramos. Without eliminated
Partial scores for each quarter: 26-12 / 50-37 (halftime) 66-55 / 85-74 (final)
Incidents: Match of the Women's League 2 Group A played in the Municipal Pavilion of Tías without public by political decision