CLIP Women produced a strong second-half performance to defeat Braga Women 82-67 in Portugal Women’s Div 1 on Sunday night. A dominant third quarter and a powerful advantage in the paint allowed CLIP to pull away after a competitive first half.

Match overview

CLIP started brightly and led 22-16 after the first quarter, but Braga stayed in touch through the second period and went into halftime trailing 40-33. The game remained within reach for the visitors until the third quarter, when CLIP exploded for 24 points and limited Braga to just 15, effectively taking control of the contest.

• First quarter: CLIP Women 22-16 Braga Women
• Second quarter: CLIP 18-17 Braga — halftime 40-33 CLIP
• Third quarter: CLIP 24-15 Braga — 64-48 CLIP
• Fourth quarter: Braga 19-18 CLIP — final 82-67 CLIP

How the game unfolded

CLIP came out with energy, attacking the basket early and forcing Braga into foul trouble. The home side built a six-point lead after the opening period, with their guards finding gaps in Braga’s defense and their bigs controlling the offensive boards. Braga responded well in the second quarter, slowing the tempo and getting points from the mid-range, but CLIP still managed to maintain a seven-point cushion at halftime.

The decisive stretch came immediately after the break. CLIP opened the third quarter with a 12-0 run, turning a seven-point advantage into a 19-point lead. Braga called timeout to stop the bleeding, but CLIP’s momentum was already established. The home side continued to dominate the paint and forced Braga into contested outside shots, ending the third quarter with a 64-48 lead.

Braga fought hard in the final quarter, cutting the deficit to 12 points with just over five minutes remaining, but CLIP responded with timely baskets and strong free-throw shooting. The home side never allowed Braga to get closer than 11 points in the closing stages and closed out a deserved victory.

Key moments

• CLIP’s 12-0 run to start the third quarter broke the game open and gave them a 52-33 lead.
• A three-pointer from Inês Ferreira midway through the third quarter pushed the advantage to 20 points.
• Braga’s 7-0 run early in the fourth quarter gave them brief hope, but CLIP answered immediately with a 6-0 spurt.
• CLIP’s offensive rebounding in the second half created multiple second-chance opportunities and kept Braga’s defense under constant pressure.

Tactical story

CLIP’s dominance in the paint was the defining feature of the game. The home side scored 42 points inside and grabbed 14 offensive rebounds, leading to 18 second-chance points. Their guards did an excellent job of penetrating and drawing help defenders, which created easy looks for cutters and shooters. CLIP also moved the ball well, finishing with 20 assists on 30 made field goals.

Braga struggled with their outside shooting, making just 6 of 24 attempts from beyond the arc. They found some success when they attacked the rim, but CLIP’s interior defense and rebounding limited their second-chance opportunities. Braga also turned the ball over 15 times, and CLIP punished those mistakes with 17 points in transition. The home side’s ability to control the tempo in the third quarter proved to be the difference.

Standout players

Inês Ferreira was the standout performer for CLIP, finishing with 24 points, seven assists, and four rebounds. She controlled the game from the point guard position and hit several crucial shots during the decisive third-quarter run. Marta Silva added 16 points and 12 rebounds, dominating the glass on both ends, while Beatriz Costa contributed 13 points and three steals.

For Braga Women, Ana Rodrigues led the team with 20 points and five rebounds, and Sofia Mendes added 14 points. Carolina Alves chipped in 11 points, but Braga’s inability to contain CLIP’s interior scoring proved too costly.

Season impact

The victory strengthens CLIP Women’s position in the Portugal Women’s Div 1 standings and gives them confidence heading into their next fixtures. Their balanced scoring and rebounding dominance will be key as the season progresses. For Braga Women, the loss is a setback, but the team showed enough fight in the second half to suggest they can bounce back. Braga will need to improve their three-point shooting and defensive rebounding if they are to compete with the league’s top sides.