ZANZIBAR (Tanzania) - Women's Basketball League Africa Zone 5 Qualifiers got underway on Sunday 27 October at the Amaan Indoor Sports Hall in Zanzibar with four matches played on the opening day.
Zone title holders Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and runners-up Rwanda Energy Group (REG) got statement wins in their opening matches against Ethiopia's Hawassa City and Tanzania’s Fox Divas, hitting over 100 points in their wins.
Here's what happened at the Amaan Indoor Sports Hall;
Defending champions KPA start strong
This was a mismatch from the get-go and it was no surprise that the reigning silver medalists had already taken a 22-point lead in the opening quarter, en route a 128-36 victory.
The Antony Ojukwu-coached side were miles ahead of their opponent on all fronts, dominating in quarters of 32-10, 36-8, 29-6 and 31-12. KPA's charge was led by Alima Doumbia who rose for a game-high 24 points, coming two assists short of a rare double-double, adding four steals for 30 in efficiency.
Five other players managed double digits, Belinda Okoth was the second best scorer, dropping 19 points and six rebounds as Grace Irebu and Nkem Akariwe adding identical 18 points and four rebounds show in a game that their side led for 36.26 minutes.
Lidiya Uduru was the best player for Hawassa City scoring seven and picking 10 rebounds as skipper Kuku Eshetu led the scoring with eight.
Fox Divas no match for REG
Mercy Wanyama top scored with 15, pulling down seven rebounds for last year's AWBL losing semifinalists Rwanda Energy Group (REG) in a 105-48 victory over Fox Divas. Four other players managed 13 points each, Destiney Promise Philoxy leading the list, providing seven assists in the process.
The Daudi Zablon Maiga-coached Tanzanians put up a fight, but only for the opening five minutes where they trailed 14-11, but REG went on a 14-2 run in the last five minutes to lead the quarter 28-13. There was no turning back for the AWBL runners-up as they went on a 22-11, 33-10, 22-14 run in the remaining quarter for the convincing victory.
Equity Bank Hawks silence Gladiators
Equity Bank Hawks played for a 73-51 victory against Burundi's Gladiators to get their campaign off to a perfect start.
Maryann Nyagaki was good for 8-of-11 on field goals, adding one point off the free-throw line for 17, three more than Betty Kananu who scored 10 of her 14 in the first quarter as the bankers raced to a 27-7 start.
Gladiators played their best basketball in the second quarter, going ahead 19-14 to cut their deficit by five heading to the half-time break. The bankers came off the locker rooms determined to lock the win, going on a 16-8 run for a 65-42 lead heading to the final stanza.
The Burundians were, again, the better side in the last 10 minutes, outscoring Hawks 17-16 but it was too little too late to make a difference.
Francine Mukendi led Gladiators with a 12-point, 11-rebounds double-double as Naomie Muco and Nelly Sandra Nsanzabaganwa added 13 each to the final tally.
Vijana Queens silence Young Sisters
Burundi's Young Sisters gave in to pressure in the last quarter of their clash against hosts Vijana Queens, allowing Ismail Mbise's side to go on a 22-16 run to lose the game 91-77, despite leading longer (22.58 minutes).
It was the closest game of the day, with 12 lead changes and 8 ties, with Young Sisters taking a 26-24 lead in the opening quarter.
The home side turned the tables in the second quarter going on a 20-17 show to head to the break with the slimest of advantages at 44-43.
Five minutes into the second half, the lead had changed again with the Burundians ahead 54-52. They, however, went on a slump, allowing Vijana Queens a 17-point run to trail 69-61 heading to the final quarter that ended their hopes for a win.
Vijana dominated the paint 60-32 with the bench also proving a game changer as they outscored their opponent 27-9.
Skipper Noela Renatus Uwandameno led by example, coming three rebounds short of a triple-double as she score 24, adding 11 assists.
FIBA