Paterna Defeats Canoe with Strong Three-Point Shooting (70-61)

Matchday 23 of Liga Femenina Challenge at La Corda sees Paterna edge Real Canoe in a crucial relegation battle. Paterna, in 14th place, secured a vital win that extends their cushion above the drop zone to three victories, while Canoe remains in 15th. A loss would have left Paterna with only a one-victory buffer.

First Quarter
Marina Bleda opened the scoring for Paterna with an impressive individual play. Mato quickly equalized, but Canoe's lead was short-lived after Aminata Traoré's basket. The opening quarter saw Paterna lead 11-6 in the first four minutes, with Traoré dominating with 6 points. After 1:30 of scoreless basketball, De Mier cut into the deficit. With two minutes left in the quarter, Marta Llompart drained a three-pointer to extend Paterna's lead to +4. Fleta Robles quickly responded to trim it to two points. Paula Saravia added a three-pointer and Irene Broncano scored inside to close out a strong quarter for the Valencia squad (24-17).

Second Quarter
Saravia opened the second half with a deep three-pointer. Lorena Segura also scored following good ball movement. After Irene Broncano's three-pointer, Jose Luis Mendez called timeout as his team had managed only three points via free throws while Paterna built a +12 lead. Upon returning, Ane hit a three-pointer to cut into the deficit. A strong Canoe run prompted Jagoba to call timeout after the visiting team trimmed five points off the lead. Back on the floor, two consecutive three-pointers from Irene Broncano with 10 seconds remaining before halftime left Canoe reeling, and their coach called timeout for the final possession of the quarter, which Zemoura converted with an impressive individual play (42-31).

Third Quarter
The third quarter began where the second ended, with Zemoura scoring inside and Canoe building a 0-4 run. Despite Canoe's strong start, two Paterna baskets evened the quarter. Irene Broncano hit her fourth three-pointer and reached 14 points to become the game's leading scorer to that point. The third quarter was tightly contested with both teams playing with high intensity. With three minutes remaining in the quarter, Marta Llompart hit a mid-range shot to extend Paterna's lead to +12. Carla Flores quickly responded with free throws, but Anna Prim countered with a two-pointer. De Mier scored the final basket of the third quarter (57-47).

Fourth Quarter
Paterna entered the final quarter with a comfortable lead but everything remained to be decided. For the first three minutes of the fourth, neither team scored until Lagowski hit a floater. Another Paterna basket from Clara Ché prompted Canoe's coach to call timeout with Paterna leading +14. Upon return, Zemoura scored inside to cut the deficit. With four minutes remaining, Zemoura scored again to bring the margin below 10 points.

Ane then hit a mid-range shot and Zemoura made a free throw. Jagoba called timeout with 2:18 remaining and Paterna clinging to a +5 lead. Back on the court, Marina Bleda's corner three-pointer appeared to seal the game. However, De Mier's three-pointer nearly complicated matters for Paterna. But it was Irene Broncano who closed out the game with her fifth three-pointer (70-61).

Paterna secured the victory behind an outstanding performance from Irene Broncano and breathed easier heading into the final stretch of the season, recording their eighth win of the campaign.