Unicaja Mijas runs rampant in Castellón (47-80)
Unicaja Mijas put on a masterclass during their visit to the Grapa Municipal Gymnasium. A perfect third quarter by Javi Pérez de los Reyes’s team turned the tide of a closely contested first half. The team from Málaga held the home team to just one field goal during that stretch, turning a two-point lead into a 27-point victory.
A 3-25 third quarter handed Unicaja Mijas its second victory on a silver platter. The team from Los Guindos stormed the Fustecma NBF Castelló court on the third matchday of the LF Challenge. The Costa del Sol squad struggled to contain Jackson, one of the competition’s top big women, in the first half. Even so, they managed to head into halftime with a 36–38 lead.
What unfolded on the court at the Grapa in the third quarter was insane—a symphony on offense and a true defensive wall that decided the battle in favor of the visitors. It was a team effort, though Débora Reis (12 points) and Alejandra Zúñiga (16 points) were key on offense. Sofía Galerón finished with a great double-double—14 points and 13 rebounds—and a performance rating of 30, earning her the award for best player of the game.
In the blink of an eye, Unicaja Mijas racked up five points to start the game. Fustecma NBF Castelló wasn’t far behind and even upped the ante to six. Neither team could sustain that intensity, and the scoring pace slowed. In that situation, free throws allowed the home team to take a 20-15 lead after the first ten minutes.
Javi Pérez de los Reyes’s team struggled against Brianna Jackson’s physical play. The center scored on second-chance opportunities and dominated the paint early in the second quarter, forcing the Málaga coach to call a timeout. It worked: Savannah Samuel stepped up and led a comeback to make it 24-23. In response to that surge, it was Jaume Tormo who called a timeout. It did little good, as a barrage of three-pointers from the visitors opened up a 24-32 lead. Jackson stemmed the bleeding with two quick baskets, and Laura Campos tied the game at 32. In the final moments of the first half, both teams’ power plays dominated, but Unicaja Mijas’s were more damaging, and by the end of the second quarter, they led 36–38.
The second half was a continuation of what had unfolded 15 minutes earlier. Unicaja Mijas showcased its offensive prowess and stepped up its defense, holding the home team scoreless for the first nine minutes of the third quarter. As if that weren’t enough, the green-and-purple three-pointers started raining down again. It was the perfect combination to widen the gap and reach the game’s highest lead at 36–63. Margarida Marinho, with a three-pointer, was the only player able to score for Fustecma NBF Castelló during that stretch. The score stood at 39–63 after half an hour of play.
Despite having the game well in hand, Unicaja Mijas didn't let up and even built a 30-point lead, 44-74, at the 36-minute mark. The Malaga team kept up their momentum and extended their lead to 47-80, bringing the second-half score to an impressive 11-42.