Sporting dominate Customs to continue unbeaten run
The Mohamed Abdelrahman-coached Egyptian side went 96-57 against Nigeria's Customs to take a 3-0 run to the final day of the Group Phase where they play Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).
ALEXANDRIA (Egypt) - Skipper Hagar Amer scored 26 points while pulling down 11 boards and picked 4 steals and 3 assists to lead Alexandria Sporting Club (ASC) to their third win of the Africa Women's Basketball League (AWBL).
The Mohamed Abdelrahman-coached Egyptian side went 96-57 against Nigeria's Customs to take a 3-0 run to the final day of the Group Phase where they play Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).
After a closely fought first period that ended with the hosts leading 20-18, the Nigerian champions were caught napping as Destiny Pitts went on a 13-point run, 9 from behind the arc to give ASC a 39-24 lead in the opening five minutes of the second quarter.
The second part of the quarter saw Customs defend better to go 8-4 in the remaining time to trail by 11 at 43-32 heading to the locker room.
"They caught us by surprise. We had watched them play the last two games and we had an idea of what they would bring but they changed their approach and kept it close the entire first quarter," the ASC coach admitted.
Customs kept the fight going in the third quarter, but the hosts had switched up their defense, going for a full-court press that saw Customs lose the ball severally and were immediately punished for it as ASC went 22-14 in the period to extend their lead to 19.
That, however, did not stop Abdelrahman's charges from running the scores in the final period against a Customs side that had no fight left in them for 31-11 and the 39-point victory.
Amer, who had scored 14 points in the opening three quarters made 12 more in the last period to take her rally to 26 as Destiny Pitts and Fatou Diagne adding 16 a piece in the win.
"It was important that we win comfortably in this match as we prepare for the clash against KPA. This will be the first difficult game for us in this group," Abdelrahman observed.
"We have history and I know they have a good squad here. They have good guards and some big players who can muscle their way on the paint. They can score from inside and outside and I expect it to be a good match as it will also determine who tops the group," the tactician added.
It was Customs' second loss in three matches before taking on DR Congo's CNSS on Friday.
FIBA