Portugal Women Beat Denmark by 17 Points in EuroBasket Qualifier
Portugal opened the second phase of EuroBasket qualifiers with a victory over Denmark, overcoming a slow start behind a strong defensive performance in the second quarter, A Bola reported.
The Portuguese team entered the Group N opener ranked 20th in Europe, facing the 27th-ranked Danish side in José Araújo’s official debut as head coach. Araújo managed the squad without experienced players Maria João Correia and Márcia Costa.
Portugal started strongly by scoring five points in the opening minute, but a nearly three-minute scoring drought allowed Denmark to seize control. Sparked by post player Julianna Okosun, the hosts strung together a 7-0 run to establish a 15-7 lead and closed the first period ahead 25-13.
The visitors responded immediately in the second quarter after falling behind 13-26. Mariana Silva scored 10 points, including two three-pointers, as Portugal mounted a 0-19 run that shut down the Danish offense for nearly five minutes.
Outscoring Denmark 7-29 during the ten-minute period, the Portuguese squad erased the deficit and led 32-42 at halftime despite trailing 28-17 in rebounding. Portugal maintained its defensive intensity into the third quarter, holding the hosts scoreless until the 3:27 mark.
Following a 6-0 run that brought Denmark within 43-54, Araújo called a timeout to reset his team. Portugal entered the final quarter leading 60-45 before the fourth period ended in a 17-17 tie, securing the 17-point win.
Ana Carolina Rodrigues led all scorers with 24 points and seven assists. Josephine Filipe added 19 points and six rebounds, while Silva finished with 12 points. Sofia da Silva earned her 100th international cap for Portugal, recording five rebounds and two assists. For Denmark, Okosun registered a double-double with 16 points and 16 assists.
“O resultado é ótimo para nós, é uma vitória por 17 pontos fora,” Araújo told A Bola. “Não foi um jogo nada fácil. Nós não entrámos bem, eles entraram com mais intensidade, mais energia.”
The head coach pointed to adjustments made after the opening quarter. “Aumentámos a intensidade, estivemos muito bem nas regras e no plano de jogo,” Araújo told A Bola. “A partir do momento em que fomos identificando as vantagens no ataque, o nosso espaço melhorou bastante, a bola começou a circular, fomos muito mais agressivos.”
Rodrigues highlighted the team’s shift in momentum after the first break. “Passámos algumas dificuldades no primeiro período, mas realmente, quando começámos a ser nós próprias, começámos a pressionar defensivamente, elas ficaram sem soluções e nós subimos muito no jogo,” Rodrigues told A Bola.
The victory builds momentum ahead of upcoming group stage matches. Portugal travels to face Hungary on Saturday before hosting Germany on November 17.
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