Casademont Zaragoza edge Basket Landes in overtime

Casademont Zaragoza beat Basket Landes 76-75 after overtime on Wednesday at the Príncipe Felipe pavilion, opening their Women’s EuroLeague campaign with a win. The Group A first-round game went down to the closing moments of the extra period. It was a hard-earned result for a side that arrived in strong form, sitting top of its domestic league after winning its first three games.

Carlos Cantero had warned before tip-off that the challenge would be difficult. Basket Landes, a familiar EuroLeague opponent for Casademont Zaragoza, made good on that forecast. Casademont began the Pilar festivities with two three-pointers in less than a minute, from Aisha Sheppard and Merritt Hempe. Landes responded quickly, with Trinity San Antonio making an impact.

Casademont moved ahead 25-14 in the second quarter, but a five-minute spell allowed the visitors to produce a 14-0 run and take a 28-25 lead. Hempe and Mariona Ortiz helped steady the side, which went into the break four points ahead at 38-34.

The third quarter opened at a fast pace, with the score 42-40 in less than two minutes. Sheppard and San Antonio led the attacks, and neither side managed to pull clear before the period ended with the hosts narrowly ahead, 57-54.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Veronika Vorackova and then Sheppard extended the lead to 61-54. Camille Droguet tied the game with a three-pointer, however, and Landes followed with a 14-0 run to go up 68-61 with less than a minute remaining. Hempe earned overtime from the free-throw line with only two seconds left.

The extra period ultimately went Casademont’s way, completing a one-point victory in their European opener. Hempe (26+4), Mariona Ortiz (8+3+5) and Sheppard (18+3) led the team in a tense win.