Spar Girona win overtime thriller to force third game with Perfumerias Avenida

GIRONA (Spain) - Another EuroLeague Women Quarter-Finals series will go down to the wire after Spar Girona won an absorbing overtime epic against domestic rivals Perfumerias Avenida on Wednesday night.

The home fans inside the Fontajau celebrated on the final buzzer as their team clinched a thrilling 81-79 success and now both clubs will go at it again on Saturday, with the Game 3 winner earning a ticket to the Final Four.

 
A lightning 20-9 start looked like it had set Girona up nicely for victory, but Avenida came roaring back and as the pendulum swung both ways during regulation, it needed the extra period to put daylight between them.

In a dramatic conclusion and in a superb advert for EuroLeague Women and Spanish basketball, the matchup ended with two free-throws from Rebekah Gardner ultimately winning the game. But, only prior to Maite Cazorla missing a last-gasp shot to snatch it for Avenida.

Gardner was on fire throughout and accumulated a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds, with vital support from Kennedy Burke who had 18 points.

Avenida will feel aggrieved at the gut-wrenching loss, and especially captain Silvia Dominguez who was excellent and finished with 18 points, 6 boards and 3 assists.

FIBA