REG banking on WNBA flair to dominate AWBL

 

ALEXANDRIA (Egypt) - FIBA Africa Zone 5 silver medalists Rwanda Energy Group (REG) got their Africa Women Basketball League (AWBL) campaign off to a winning start seeing off Overdose Up Station 86-45.

Coach Esperance Mukaneza's charges were miles ahead of their opponents on all fronts, going on a 56-21 route of the Cameroon champions in the first half, before playing for 21-14 and 9-10 in the second half for the 41-point win. 

American imports Tiffany Mitchell and her WNBA counterpart Nia Clouden led the offense for coach Mukaneza, the former posting a game-high 23 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and four steals. 

Clouden, on her part was good for a match-high 8 assists, with 6 rebounds and 9 points to boot. 

Nia Clouden (24)

Coach Mukaneza believes the experience the duo has brought into her team, coupled with Destiny Promise Philoxy's addition will go a long way in helping the team advance further in the competition.

"We have had a good start and this marries well with our targets for the competition. This is a clear message that we are here not to fill up the numbers but to fight for the title. We made the three changes with the conviction that they would help us fight for the title and their contribution in today's win has been immense," coach Mukaneza offered. 

Mitchell turns up for the Minnesota Lynx while Clouden last featured for the Los Angeles Sparks in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The former has previously had stints at international leagues in Russia, Turkey, Israel and Australia and has now made her debut in the African club competition. 

Tiffany Mitchel (25) posted a game-high 23 points in her AWBL debut

Before joining Sparks, 23-year-old Clouden featured for Connecticut Sun who had chosen her as a 12th first-round pick in the WNBA draft in 2022. 

"It has taken a bit of adjusting to the physical nature of African basketball but once they settle in the first half, they were able to show up. Having them in the team does not only push the team's agenda but also motivate the rest of the squad to play well as we look to scale the heights of this competition,"  the tactician added. 

A former Rwandese national team player who has since transitioned to coaching, Mukaneza says being only one of two female head coaches at the ongoing competition also serves to motivate her to achieve more. 

"I know women are just as capable if not better and that is what I am out to prove with this squad," she concluded. 

Destiney Philoxy 

Her opposite number Roger Dassi admitted that his squad's mentality will need some adjusting as they did not play as expected something he attributes to the team's inexperience. 

"We shot the ball a lot but our shots were not dropping, going 18 for 78 which is not a good statistic. As we prepare for the next match, we have to work on our accuracy but more importantly, on the players' self-belief on the court. We are here to compete and nothing is lost yet, we will regroup and keep the fight going," he said. 

FIBA