Zaragoza Women's Edge Basket Landes 76-75 in EuroLeague Women Thriller

Zaragoza Women's opened their latest EuroLeague Women assignment with a 76-75 victory over Basket Landes on Thursday, October 15, 2026, in a game that went down to the final possession. The Spanish side trailed by six at halftime but flipped the contest with a decisive third-quarter run and then survived a tense finish in front of a lively home crowd.

The one-point margin tells the story of a matchup that was never comfortable for either team. Basket Landes controlled long stretches with patient half-court offense, while Zaragoza leaned on defensive energy and a late rebounding edge to reclaim the lead. When the final buzzer sounded, the hosts had secured a win that could prove valuable in the race for EuroLeague Women playoff positioning.

Match Overview

Zaragoza Women's and Basket Landes traded blows from the opening tip, but the French visitors looked the sharper side early. Basket Landes moved the ball well against Zaragoza's initial man-to-man defense and built a small cushion by the end of the first quarter. The second period followed a similar pattern, with Basket Landes finding open looks from the perimeter while Zaragoza relied on second-chance points to stay within striking distance.

• First quarter: Zaragoza Women's 17-19 Basket Landes
• Second quarter: Zaragoza Women's 18-22 Basket Landes
• Halftime: Zaragoza Women's 35-41 Basket Landes
• Third quarter: Zaragoza Women's 23-16 Basket Landes
• Fourth quarter: Zaragoza Women's 18-18 Basket Landes
• Final: Zaragoza Women's 76-75 Basket Landes

How Zaragoza Turned the Game

Trailing 41-35 at the break, Zaragoza needed a response and got one immediately after halftime. The hosts increased their defensive pressure on the ball, forced Basket Landes into hurried decisions, and turned those stops into transition opportunities. A 10-2 run to open the third quarter erased the deficit and shifted the momentum inside the arena.

Zaragoza's third-quarter surge was built on balance rather than one hot hand. The guards pushed the tempo, the wings crashed the offensive glass, and the interior players finished through contact. By the end of the period, Zaragoza had turned a six-point halftime deficit into a 58-57 lead, setting up a fourth quarter that felt like a playoff game.

Key Moments

• Early Basket Landes run: The visitors opened with a 7-0 burst, forcing Zaragoza to call an early timeout and adjust their pick-and-roll coverage.
• Zaragoza's late first-half push: A 5-0 mini-run before the break kept the home side within six and prevented Basket Landes from pulling away.
• Third-quarter explosion: Zaragoza's 10-2 run to start the second half changed the complexion of the game and brought the crowd fully into the contest.
• Clutch free throws: In the final minute, Zaragoza converted key free throws to hold a one-point edge, forcing Basket Landes to chase the game.
• Final possession: Basket Landes had a look at the winner, but a contested jumper rimmed out as time expired, sealing Zaragoza's 76-75 win.

Standout Performances

Zaragoza's backcourt set the tone on both ends. Their starting point guard finished with 18 points and 6 assists, repeatedly breaking down Basket Landes' defense in the third quarter. The team's interior anchor added a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, including four offensive boards that led to critical second-chance points. On the wing, Zaragoza got timely shooting, with two three-pointers in the second half that helped swing the momentum.

Basket Landes received a strong performance from their leading scorer, who poured in 21 points and kept the offense afloat during dry spells. Their point guard orchestrated the attack with 13 assists, while the center contributed 12 points and 9 rebounds. In the end, however, Basket Landes could not find one more clean look in the closing seconds.

Tactical Story

Basket Landes built their halftime lead by attacking Zaragoza's drop coverage in the pick-and-roll. The French side used ball screens to create mid-range opportunities and kick-out threes, and for two quarters the approach worked well. Zaragoza responded after halftime by switching to a more aggressive zone look, which slowed Basket Landes' rhythm and forced them into longer possessions.

On offense, Zaragoza emphasized paint touches and offensive rebounding. They finished the game with a narrow rebounding advantage and generated enough extra possessions to offset a difficult shooting night from beyond the arc. Basket Landes, meanwhile, relied heavily on pe