DAKAR (Senegal) - Four of the eight Quarter-Final teams have been decided after five days of 2024 Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA) action at the Marius Ndiaye Arena in Dakar, Senegal.
Group A's Al Ahly SC survived the home side's first-half onslaught to stay perfect and head to the Last-Eight top of the group while Ivorians Friend's Basketball Association (FBA) stunned CNSS to qualify automatically.
Here is how action unfolded in Group's A and B
Group A
Al Ahly Sporting see off ASC Ville de Dakar to remain perfect
The home fans' song and dance that reverberated at the Marius Ndiaye Arena in support of the home side ASC Ville de Dakar might have rattled Al Ahly Sporting Club as their clash against the hosts got underway, but the Tarek Abouzied charges remained calm to take the match 61-46.
The win propels Al Ahly SC to the knockout stages as the best placed side in the group on six points after a perfect run.
"It was a tough game. The atmosphere because of the fans had us flustered and we started the game badly. We were not ready for this but after the first half we played together as a team, pulled each other up for this win," Raneem Elgedawy.
A 9-2 run in the opening half of the third quarter did the hosts in. The two sides had exchanged leads seven times with eight ties in the opening half, Moustapha Gaye's side leading 12-9 in the opening stanza before heading to the locker rooms trailing 30-28.
It was one of their own, 25-year-old Senegalese Ndioma Kané who led the onslaught for the Egyptians, finishing with a game-high 27 in efficiency after dropping 19 points and 14 rebounds (just one on offense).
"There are things one cannot control like Fatou Diagne picking two fouls early which affected our game plan," coach Gaye said of the centre who is a doubt for the next match as she walked off the match limping after a bad fall in the third quarter. "Things did not work for us in the third quarter and the players lost confidence. It was, however, a positioning game and nothing is lost yet. We will regroup for the next game that will be crucial."
FAP survive MFM onslaught to remain third
In a game of two halves, Cameroon's FAP held on for a 62-60 win against Nigeria's MFM Queens who mounted a late rally as both sides chased a maiden victory.
A strong 22-12, 17-16 start for the Ange Majolie-led FAP pulled them through as Joy Ochuko's charges mounted a comeback with 20-11 final quarter. The match came down to the final 45 seconds after Wandoo Marvis Hembam tied the game at 60.
"It has been a tough group stage, playing the hosts ASC Ville de Dakar, Al Ahly and MFM Queens. We knew no game is given and we have to fight and that is what we did today," Olympian Adebola Adeyeye said.
Breanna Campbell's free throws were the difference as MFM failed to hammer a clutch three from U18 AfroBasket star Idubamo Beggi, who top scored for MFM with 16, that would have snatched the win from Majolie's charges.
Ionna McKenzie, on the court for 29 minutes, top scored for FAP with 16, four more than another U18 AfroBasket revelation Kelya Kipo, adding 11 rebounds to complete her double-double, as Kipo pulled down nine rebounds, and four assists to emerge as the side's second best performer on efficiency rating with 18. McKenzie led with 21.
"A win is a win no matter the score. Experience lacked, especially in the second half but I am glad we picked this victory. We were not calm and we will have to work on that," coach Majolie.
Group B
FBA get better of CNSS to go through
Debutants Friends Basketball Association (FBA) were the first side in Group B to assure themselves a place in the knockout stages as they made light work of Congo DR's CNSS, last year's quarter finalists, in a 65-43 show to finish group action with 2-1.
Lémou Benga's charges led from first whistle, destroying any chance of a CNSS comeback with a 21-12 third quarter show to carry an 18-point advantage to the final stanza, where they won by 22.
"I am happy for the win. Coming in we knew CNSS were good scorers and we had a plan to stop their best hence the convincing win. Aggressiveness is a trademark for us and we used that to returning everything they threw at us for the win," Benga told FIBA.basketball.
The two sides were coming off wins against pre-competition group favourites APR and CNSS, but the latter were a pale shadow of the squad that subjected defending champions Alexandria Sporting Club (ASC) to their first defeat in three editions.
Koko Ade's charges were outsmarted on all key areas, Benga's charges out-rebounding the Congolese 53-38 (19-13 on offense) for 13- 3 on second chance points, 18-08 on points off fast breaks, 23-11 from turnovers, 35-14 off the bench and 34-18 on the paint.
"They took us by surprise," coach Ade admitted. "They were aggressive and that forced us to turn the ball over a lot. They destabilised our plays, forcing us to play their game and we could not recover in time. As the championship continues, we will need to make some adjustments as this game exposed a lot areas to improve."
Reigning champions lose two in a row
In the final game of the day, defending champions Sporting Alexandria lost 74-72 to Rwanda's APR, and, as a result they finish bottom of Group B.
Two-time WNBA champion, Kierstan Bell, finally lived up to expectations shooting 5-of-9 from range in a 27-point route of the defending champions Alexandria Sporting Club to lead her APR to a 74-72 victory and qualify as the second best team from Group B.
"It was a do or die and I just set out to help the team win. We trusted each other and played together, knocking down the shots and picking our rebounds and we are happy to win," Kierstan Bell.
The match witnessed 19 lead changes and 12 ties, coming down to the last 25 seconds. Italee Lucas' driving lay up gave the Rwandese side the victory Lianna Tillman missed a trey with three seconds on the clock to lose.
Despite the holders dominating the paint 42-26, they had no answers for the trio of Kierstan Bell, Italee Lucas and Shaina Pellington who combined for 58, the other 16 coming off skipper Charlotte Umugwaneza (9) and Kamba Yoro Diakite (7).
"It was a tough loss. We had a slow start and did not expect that. We tried coming back in the second half but it was never to be," Hala Elshaarawy said.
FIBA