LILLE (France) - A still perfect Spain are still to taste defeat at the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 after they eased out Serbia 70-62.
Having sneaked past China and Puerto Rico in their previous encounters, Spain cemented pole position in Group A and were helped by the return from injury of Maria Conde.
Serbia meanwhile had to settle for second in the Group having already booked a Quarter-Finals ticket after starting 2-0.
Turning point
Spain posted a devastating 22-5 run either side of the half-time break and Serbia couldn't live with them at both ends of the court. Once up by a big double-digit margin, Spain had the valuable cushion they needed to hold off a Serbia comeback in the last two minutes.
Game hero
Sidelined by injury for the first two games, the return of Maria Conde was pivotal. The winger parachuted into the tournament for this third game in impressive fashion, ending up with 15 points and 3 steals.
Stats don't lie
Spain shot well from 2-point range and sunk 64% compared to just 40% for Serbia, while they also out-rebounded their opponents 44 to 27.
Bottom line
Spain chose a good time to build some momentum heading into Wednesday's Quarter-Finals. While they were already 2-0 before this one, those victories were so tight, they had been unconvincing. This was the opposite and a dominant performance that suddenly transformed podium expectations - even if they had to fend off a late Serbia rally.
Serbia have had both extremes since they squeezed out a first day triumph against Puerto Rico. They posted that huge win against China when they looked slick and capable of big things. Only to then suffer this loss against Spain when they ofered too little, too late. Which Serbia team will turn up in the capital this week for their crunch Quarter-Finals game?
They said
We were ready for their late run - Maria Conde
"I think we stuck to the game plan from the beginning. Serbia are coached by an amazing coach so we knew what type of game it would be. We were ready for their late run and were not surprised at all by it. Even when they played their aggressive defense, we were able to still make some shots and I am just very happy for the win." Spain winger, Maria Conde.
I believe in our defense - Tina Krasjisnik
"I am not satisfied with how we played for three quarters. It was only in the last quarter that we showed how we can play. I am really disappointed because we could have used this game to be first in the Group and I felt like we could do it. We need to work on our focus and start to games, but I believe in our defense." Serbia center Tina Krajisnik.
Quick notes
- Spain remain undefeated against Serbia and have now a total of four wins against them at the Olympics, more than against any other opponent in the competition. - Spain have now won their last nine group stage games at the Olympics; they have allowed fewer than 65 points in each of their last two games, after conceding more than 65 in each of their four games in Tokyo 2020. - This was Spain’s second game with more than 20 assists at Paris 2024 – a joint-high for them in a single tournament (also two games in 2016 and two in 2020).
- Yvonne Anderson scored 18 points against Spain, the second most for her in a game at the Olympics (24 v France in Tokyo 2020) and the most as a starter; this was her third game with 15+ points and 5+ assists in the competition and since her debut, at the start of Tokyo 2020, only one player has had more such games than her (Emma Meesseman, 4). - Laura Gil is the third Spanish player combining for 7+ rebounds and 7+ assists in a single game at the Olympics, after Cristina Ouvina (twice in 2021) and Queralt Casas (once this year); however, she is the first player of any country to have made 7+ rebounds and 7+ assists in a game without attempting a single field goal at the Olympics.
FIBA