A nail-biting encounter with hosts Spain saw Great Britain Women narrowly lose out, with a final score of 52 -56.

Great Britain fell behind early on, but asserted themselves on the five-minute mark, overcoming a slight deficit to finish quarter one 18-10 ahead. A true team effort with 6 different scorers, Spain struggled to contain the variety and flexibility of Great Britain attacks.

Predominantly thanks to the brilliance of Virginia Pérez, who top scored with 24 points, Spain were able to slowly eat away at Great Britain’s lead. 3.5 player Robyn Love also shone, netting 10 points and 3 assists throughout the game – including a remarkable and dramatic late basket with 00:01 on the clock going into halftime.

The intensity only increased, and going into the final quarter the game was precariously balanced at 44-43 in Great Britain’s favour.

The final 10 minutes were full of nerves from both sides, and as the likes of Helen Freeman and Laurie Williams pushed hard to get Great Britain back in control, the game became frantic. Lots of quality on display from both sides, there we plenty of fouls as the game entered the final stage with the score agonisingly close.

With 1:45 left on the clock, Joy Haizelden continued her form from the previous game and netted from the free-throw line, bringing Great Britain within one 3-pointer of drawing level. But it was Spain who sensed opportunity on the break, and a with that deciding 2-pointer the hosts were able to call a tactical time out, and restrict Great Britain from retrieving the narrow lead they had taken into the final quarter.