Sportiva Azores Airlines Women defeated Sanjannis women's basketball team 81-73 in Club Friendship action on September 20, 2026, using a decisive third-quarter run to secure an important road result. The visitors led 41-38 at halftime, then outscored Sanjannis 23-16 in the third period to build a lead they protected down the stretch. The final score reflected a competitive contest, but Sportiva Azores Airlines Women controlled the key stretches with better rebounding, sharper perimeter shooting, and timely free-throw shooting in the fourth quarter.

Match Overview

Played at the Sanjannis home court, the game featured two teams looking to improve their position in the Club Friendship standings. Sanjannis women's basketball team started with energy and attacked the lane early, but Sportiva Azores Airlines Women answered with a balanced offensive approach. The visitors moved the ball well against Sanjannis's early pressure and found open shooters on the wings, building a 22-18 lead after the first quarter.

Sanjannis responded well in the second period. Behind stronger defensive rotations and a more patient half-court attack, the home side trimmed the deficit and went into the locker room down by just three points. The momentum, however, shifted after the break. Sportiva Azores Airlines Women came out of halftime with a more aggressive defensive posture, forcing turnovers and converting them into transition points. That third-quarter surge proved to be the difference in the final result.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

The quarter scores tell the story of a game that was close for 20 minutes before Sportiva Azores Airlines Women created separation. Sanjannis actually won the second quarter 20-19 and the fourth quarter 19-17, but the 23-16 third period gave the visitors enough cushion to withstand a late rally.

Key Moments That Decided the Game

• First-quarter perimeter shooting: Sportiva Azores Airlines Women knocked down three early three-pointers to establish a 22-18 lead, forcing Sanjannis to extend its defense.
• Sanjannis's second-quarter response: The home team used an 8-2 run midway through the second period to cut the lead to one, but Sportiva answered before halftime to take a 41-38 edge into the break.
• Third-quarter breakaway: The decisive stretch came in the opening five minutes of the third quarter, when Sportiva Azores Airlines Women went on a 14-4 run. Their defensive pressure created consecutive steals and easy baskets in transition.
• Fourth-quarter composure: Sanjannis cut the deficit to five points with under four minutes remaining, but Sportiva Azores Airlines Women made six of their final eight free throws to close out the 81-73 win.

Tactical Story

Sportiva Azores Airlines Women relied on a compact 2-3 zone for long stretches, daring Sanjannis to beat them from the perimeter. The approach worked: Sanjannis generated good looks from outside but could not sustain a high enough shooting percentage, especially in the third quarter. On the other end, Sportiva's guards repeatedly beat the first line of defense off the dribble, collapsing the home side's help defense and creating open corner threes or dump-off passes to the post.

Sanjannis women's basketball team were at their best when they played through the high post and attacked the offensive glass. Their second-chance points kept them within striking distance, and their full-court pressure in the fourth quarter forced a few late turnovers. However, the home side struggled with decision-making against Sportiva's half-court trap, finishing with too many empty possessions during the decisive third-quarter run.

Standout Players

• Mariana Costa (Sportiva Azores Airlines Women): Led all scorers with 22 points, adding 7 rebounds and 5 assists. She was the game's most consistent offensive threat, scoring in every quarter and hitting timely shots whenever Sanjannis threatened to rally.
• Inês Ferreira (Sportiva Azores Airlines Women): Finished with 16 points, including four three-pointers. Her perimeter shooting stretched Sanjannis's defense and opened driving lanes for her teammates.
• Rita Sousa (Sportiva Azores Airlines Women): Posted a double-double with 12 po