Casademont Zaragoza player Mariona Ortiz recorded 6 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists in the 20 minutes she spent on the court, earning a valuation of 8 and ranking as the fourth-best player on the Spanish team. Megan Gustafson, with 16 points, was one of Spain's main threats, although she struggled badly from three-point range, making just 1 of 6 attempts. Iyana Martín tried to fight back against the odds, scoring 20 points and posting a valuation of 21, but it was not enough against Mali.
Going 4 of 22 from beyond the 6.75-meter line proved too heavy a burden for the Spanish team. Photo: FIBA
The game was closely contested, with Mali relying on a physical, fast-paced transition game to take advantage of its athletic superiority. The third quarter broke the game open in favor of the African side, as Mali won the period 31-19 and took a 10-point lead into the final minutes.
Missed shots from both three-point range and the free-throw line continued to condemn a Spanish team that watched the clock run down without reducing the 10-point deficit. Despite Spain's efforts, the Malian team managed its lead perfectly to hand Spain its first setback of the World Cup. The limited rest after the win over Germany (83-53) was evident against an African team that stands out precisely for its physical strength.
The second round of Group A concludes with Japan-Germany, which will be played this afternoon at 6:00 p.m. Spain will close the group stage against Japan, featuring former rojilla Stephanie Mawuli, next Monday at 5:50 p.m. in a game the Méndez-coached team must win to advance as group winners to the knockout stage. If Germany wins, the group will end in a four-way tie heading into a final round certain to be filled with tension.
