LILLE (France) - Spain were involved in another game for the ages at the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 as they denied heartbroken Puerto Rico a first victory at the Games with a 63-62 success. There was a sense of deja vu as Spain won their second game by a solitary point again, with Puerto Rico having made a huge comeback to move to the brink of a historic success.
Turning point
With Puerto Rico having moved 57-53 in front after a 15-point comeback with just over 4 minutes to play, Spain were in trouble after that 19-point turnaround in the game. Mariona Ortiz stepped into the contest and scored two baskets to change the momentum.
Then, in the dying seconds, Laura Gil took a huge rebound, was fouled and made the subsequent two free-throws to seal the deal - having not previously scored.
Game heroes
Gil and Ortiz deserve huge credit for their timely interventions, while Megan Gustafson weighed in with another double-double. This time the forward accumulated 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Leonor Rodriguez also impressed for a second time in the competition. After her heroics in the opening game against China, she registered 17 points in this one.
Stats don't lie
In such a tight game, Spain's finishing from two-point range and from the free-throw line were difference-makers.
They made 20 from 32 for 63% from the former and that was key since they were struggling from downtown. They also missed only one single free-throw in the game - making 11 of their attempts.
They said
"[In the last minute] it was kind of chaotic and we were trying to get any good look. Obviously the rebound was huge by Laura [Gil] that helped us get those rebounds and that was clutch." Spain forward, Megan Gustafson
"We have to move on to the next game and control what we can. Every day you come out to fight and to win. My mindset is that I truly believe we can compete with anybody on the floor when we play together and it shows." Puerto Rico rising star, Trinity San Antonio
Quick notes
- Spain have won their two games at the 2024 Olympics by margins of only one point (90-89 v China, 63-62 today), the first time that a team wins consecutive games with the narrowest margin in the competition. - Puerto Rico have suffered their 5th defeat in as many games played at the Olympics, however their two games this year ended with margins of three points or fewer after losing their three games in 2021 with margins of 27+ points.
- Spain scored only 63 points today, the five times they scored 63 or fewer points in a game at the Olympics in the 21st century were all against teams from the Americas : against USA in 2004 (58), 2008 (55) & 2016 (63), against Brazil in 2004 (63) and against Puerto Rico today (63); they scored only five points in the third quarter today, their joint-lowest tally in a single quarter of a game at the Olympics (also 5 in Q4 v China in 2004). - Mya Hollingshed (10pts, 12reb) registered today the first double-double for a Puerto Rican player at the Olympics. - Megan Gustafson grabbed 13 rebounds today, only Margarita Geuer (14 v Italy in 1992) and Laura Gil (14 v South Korea in 2021) have had a better total in a game at the Olympics among the Spanish players; her 12 defensive rebounds are however a record for a Spanish player in the competition.
FIBA