PRETORIA (South Africa)- There were no surprises on the opening day of the FIBA U18 Women's AfroBasket in Pretoria as the favourites got their respective campaigns off to perfect starts.
Despite some logistical challenges that saw the schedule moved forward by a day, action tipping off on Monday 2 September, all four scheduled matches were played.
Tunisia beat debutants Cameroon
Yoldez Ben Belaid, who hit double digits in the opening half, led Tunisia to a 73-59 comfortable victory over Cameroon in the opening match of the tournament and of group A.
The shooting guard dropped 23 points in just over 36 minutes on the floor and was joined by Nour Horchani and Rim arbi with 14 and 11 points respectively, the latter coming two rebounds shy of a double-double. Horchani added 6 steals and as many rebounds to her tally.
Damaris Emedie bagged a double-double for Cameroon with 18 points, 11 rebounds and added 2 steals for a match high 21 in efficiency. It was, however, not enough to hand the debutants a maiden win.
"Our opponents were really physical but we held our own to win the game. I am.happy to have performed well in the opening match. That was my target and I hope as we review film and correct our mistakes, we will perform even better in the next match," Ben Belaid told FIBA.basketball.
Tunisia made sure to open the halves on a high, going 22-14 ahead in the first quarter and 19-10 in the third. The second quarter was 18-all while Cameroon carried the day in the final quarter at 17-14.
Baptism by fire for hosts against Rwanda
Nosipho Njokweni's South Africa had nothing on Brigitte Nibishaka-powered Rwanda as the East Africans sent an early statement of intent with a dominant 102-37 win against the hosts.
Rwanda got the match off to a spectacular 25-05 start and the hosts response in the second period did little to threaten the Rwandese who still won 22-12.
"Our execution was good and we grew more confident as the match went on. We hope to carry the same focus to the next game," Nibishaka offered.
Carrying a 30-point advantage to the half-time break did not slow Jacques Bahige's charges as they returned for the second half even more lethal offensively going 29-12 and 26-08 for the massive win.
The hosts, who shot only 20.9% on field goals, attempting only three treys the entire match, could not match the free scoring Rwandese whose charge was led by Nibishaka with a 25-points, 16 rebounds double-double, adding four steals, an assist and a block.
Vanessa Prissy Camara (22), Yvonne Muhawenimana (19), and Vestine Tuyisenge (17) all hit double digits in a match that saw Rwanda steal the ball 38 times. Despite being outrebounded by the hosts 57-47, Bahige's charges were simply unstoppable offensively.
Khadiga powers Egypt past Nigeria
Her star, since her impressive show in the last U16 AfroBasket keeps on shining and Khadiga Abouelghait was a joy to watch against Nigeria as she dropped 19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assist and a block to power Egypt to a 72-60 win over the West Africans.
An opening 21-20 quarter was all the North Africans needed to realise that Nigeria, returning to the U18 showpiece for the first time since 2008, were no pushovers.
It was an important match not only because it was our first but also Nigeria is one of the most important teams competing here - Khadiga Abouelghait
The Mostafa Atef Hadhood-coached Egypt side pulled away for a 22-12 show in the second quarter to make it an 11-point game and guve themselves room to breathe in a second half that saw Nigeria push them to the wall with a 16-15 third quarter. The North Africans managed to go 14-12 ahead in the final period, their second quarter brilliance proving a game winner.
"It was an important match not only because it was our first but also Nigeria is one of the most important teams competing here. They pushed us but our defense proved a winning factor. We had trained for this having watched them a couple of times before this and it was a good team win," Abouelghait said after the victory.
While Malak Elhemaly and Hana Mohamed hit double digits, adding 13 and 10 points respectively to the final tally, Miriam Elgendy led the team with 8 steals, 7 rebounds and 6 points, making her one of the side's highest ranked players in efficiency.
Nigeria's charge was led by Idubamo Beggi who top-scored with 23, adding 6 steals and as many rebounds, and 3 assists. Her teammates, however, failed to match her energy offensively,9 Momoluwa Ayomide the only other player to hit double digits with 10. Abigail Isaac led the team's rebounding with 14, one more than Haminatu Ayodeji.
Uganda annihilate Zimbabwe
Coach John Omondi's Junior Gazelles welcomed Zimbabwe to the U18 AfroBasket with a 85-36 drubbing that gives the Ugandan side a perfect start in Group C.
An early 16-5 lead for Uganda against the debutants meant a one-sided encounter that only came to life in the final quarter as the Southern Africans moved past 10 points after 23-8 and 25-8 in the second and third. The final quarter ended 21-15.
Resty Nanangwe (24) and Mia Belinda Alaba (23) combined for 47 points, more than half of the points the East Africans scored, the former falling one rebound short of a double-double. She added 5 steals to her tally.
"We are aggressive defensively so we can have it easy on offense. We made a few mistakes in this game but it has helped us learn where we need to work on so ad to win the next match," Resty told FIBA.basketball after the match.
Thabisile Tshuma led the charge for Zimbabwe with a 11-point and 10-rebound double-double, adding three steals and a block for a team-high 13 in efficiency. Tinaishe Chiedza Daniele, Chikwata added 11 points.
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