As a result, the Aragonese side heads into the season’s first international break with its work done and still unbeaten. The red-clad team has claimed its 11th consecutive win across the Liga Femenina Endesa and EuroLeague in a game where Sheppard, with 15 points, and Bankolé, with 17, were key for Carlos Cantero’s side.
With this result, Casademont heads into the break as the Liga Femenina Endesa leader, having won all seven of the seven games played. Carlos Cantero’s team thus maintains its unbeaten record in domestic competition and will begin the international break at the top of the standings, while also remaining the only unbeaten team in the EuroLeague.
THE GAME
Following the extra effort and accumulated fatigue from the crucial EuroLeague win over Landes, Carlos Cantero opted to change his usual starting five, bringing in players with fewer minutes alongside key members of the red-clad squad. The Madrid-born coach therefore sent out a starting lineup of Mariona Ortiz, Aisha Sheppard, Yarden Garzon, Nadia Fingall and Nerea Hermosa.
With these players on court, Casademont took the first lead of the game thanks to Aisha Sheppard. The accurate American shooting guard, who had made only a brief appearance in the midweek European game, hit three three-pointers in quick succession to put the Aragonese side ahead. However, Estudiantes’ pressure caused several problems for a disorganized Casademont, which lost as many as eight balls in the first quarter. The unfavorable situation allowed the Madrid side to overtake an Aragonese team that was allowing its opponent to score too easily. Even so, a powerful Bankolé scored three consecutive three-point plays for the visitors—a three-point play and two three-pointers—and kept the opening period level at 22-22.
When play resumed, the red-clad team, apart from Bankolé and Sheppard, still could not find its rhythm, while Hempe, probably being given a well-deserved rest, had yet to enter the rotation. As a result, turnovers were weighing Casademont down, with the team missing the contributions of several players. Mariona had five turnovers, Vitola three, and Vorackova and Nerea two each—15 in total after just two quarters for a red-clad side that remained in the game thanks to Bankolé and Sheppard. The shooting guard and small forward combined for 28 of the Aragonese team’s 39 first-half points, while a final 2-10 run allowed them to take a 39-33 lead into halftime.
A NARROW ESCAPE
After the halftime break, Casademont stepped on the gas for the first time and opened the third period with another 2-8 run, which, unsurprisingly, coincided with Hempe’s first minutes on the court at the Magariños. The center, named EuroLeague MVP for October, scored seven consecutive points for the red-clad team, allowing the Aragonese side to open the game’s first significant gap. In addition, Movistar continued to see its offensive numbers decline, suggesting another comfortable Casademont win at 60-44.
Despite this, in the final period the Madrid side tightened the game again with a 16-5 run against a Casademont team that was struggling badly from the field and continued to hurt itself with turnovers, which rose to 23. The game entered its final minute with Movistar within one point. In that situation, Nerea Hermosa made a crucial basket to give Casademont another agonizing win, 68-67.
GAME DETAILS
Movistar Estudiantes (67): Latorre Alcántara (7), Etxarri Munarriz (6), Fequiere (9), Osma Cruz (3) and Cooper (14)—starting five. Buch Rosell (2), Lamana Llobera (14), Nestor (-), Sánchez Iznajar (6) and Begoña De Santiago (6).
Casademont Zaragoza (68): Mariona Ortiz (4), Aisha Sheppard (15), Yarden Garzon (4), Nadia Fingall (4) and Nerea Hermosa (4)—starting five. Ornella Bankolé (17), Veronika Vorackova (-), Laia Flores (3), Helena Oma (6), Kristine Vitola (-), Merritt Hempe (8) and Carla Brito (1).
Officials: Carlos Javier García León, Jorge Camaño Muñoz and Javier Sáez Ruiz.
Quarter scores: 22-22 / 11-17 / 11-21 / 23-8.
Venue: Game corresponding to the seventh round of the Liga Femenina Endesa, played at the Pabellón Antonio Magariños in Madrid.
