Barça 96-84 Cazoo Baskonia: Second European win of the week

Two from two this week in Europe for Barça following a 96-84 win for Sara Jasikevicius' team against Baskonia at the Palau. The blaugranes were coming off the back of a good win on Tuesday, also in the Euroleague, against Partizan and in a tight encounter Vesely and Higgins top scored. 

Before the game at the Palau, members of the women's team Ainhoa López and Lucia Navarro and the players from La Masia Kasparas Jakučionis and Èdgar Moure read a statement opposing violence against women to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence towards Women. 

Close start 

The opening quarter was a close one with both side struggling from the three point line. Barça were behind until the last moments of the period when Vesely scored to make it 22-22. 

The blaugranes came out invigorated in the second quarter and scores from Higgins and Abrines saw them in front at 31-27 after 14 minutes. Both teams improved their perimeter shooting and a dunk from Da Silva confirmed Barça's lead at half time at 52-48. 

Higgins makes the difference 

In the second half the match followed a similar script to the first. Solid defence allowed Baskonia to get back in front at 66-65 but two successive three pointers from Laprovittola turned the game in the home side's favour at 73-66. The visitors fought back but went into the final quarter behind at 76-73. 

In the final quarter the game was still tight at 81-78 before Cory Higgins nailed two three pointers to move Barça ahead at 87-76. Saras' team closed out the win at 96-84 and next face Coviran Granada in the league on Sunday at 5pm CET at the Palau. 

MATCH STATS

Barça, 96

 Cazoo Baskonia, 84

Barça:  Laprovittola (9), Satoransky (7), Kalinic (7), Tobey (9), Sanli (8)- starting five – Da Silva (11), Abrines (6), Vesely (18), Higgins (17), Jokubaitis (4), Nnaji (-)

Cazoo Baskonia: Enoch (4), Geidraitis (7), Henry (13), Howard (25), Costello (13) -starting five – Raieste (-), MarinKovic (0), Diez (3), Thompson (9), Kotsar (2), Hommes (8)