PRETORIA (South Africa) - After a day off for all 12 teams competing for the FIBA U18 Women's AfroBasket title, four matches were on the cards on Thursday, 5 September, with some sides inching closer to automatic qualification to the knockout stages.
Egypt dominated the Zone 5 derby to remain perfect while Nigeria ran the scores against debutants Zimbabwe in the opening two, highly-one-sided, encounters.
Find below an U18 Women's AfroBasket round-up of Thursday's action at University of Pretoria.
Rwanda fall to Tunisia in 74-71 thriller
Tunisia remained perfect in the FIBA U18 Women's AfroBasket as they held their own against a fierce Rwanda to pick their second win of group A in a 74-71 outcome.
The clash, a talking point before the two sides met, lived up to its billing with edge-of-the-seat end-to-end action from both sides.
A strong 21-15, 19-11 start for Tunisia pointed to a lopsided encounter with the North Africans dominant but Jacques Bahige's charges turned the tables in a spirited thrid-quarter fight.
Tunisia led 40-26 at half time but Brigitte Nibishaka and Vanessa Prissy orchestrated Rwanda's comeback, bringing the East African side to within a basket at 45-43 halfway through the third quarter.
Rebecca Cyuzuzo scored with 4:28 left on the clock, handing Rwanda the lead for the first time in the match at 46-45. It remained majorly a two-point game, with Tunisia ahead before Yvonne Muhawenimana drew Rwanda level at 53 points.
Nibishaka started Rwanda's last play of the quarter with a steal that ended on their side with Cyuzuzo drawing a foul and converting the resulting free throws to see them lead 55-53 heading to the final quarter.
Nibishaka made it a four-point game in the opening minute of the fourth period but Nour Horchani went on a five-point streak, grabbing the lead right back at 58-57.
The scores were tied at 64, Nibishaka pulling her side back into the game from behind the arc. Liliane Ingabire gave Rwanda the lead at 66-64 but Molka Mares and Ines Ben Rejeb combined to put Tunisia 70-66 ahead.
Rwanda will rue their chances as they lost numerous sitters, and rushed through the final seconds of the clash, unsuccessfully attempting to tie the game with three point shots. They trail Tunisia and Cameroon in the group standings ahead of the final group matches.
Nigeria see off Zimbabwe
Returning for the first time since 2008, Nigeria made sure to bounce back from their 72-60 loss to Egypt, with a win over Zimbabwe in a one-sided encounter that ended 107-30.
A strong 29-5 start for the West Africans who have called shots in the last four editions of the senior women's AfroBasket, followed by 27-7 second period ensured they headed to the break with enough cushion for coach Juliana Ojoshogu Negedu to rotate her squad, with just one player missing the match.
Zimbabwe, who had Tinaishe Chiedza Daniele Chikwata as their top scorer with 13, played their best basketball in the third quarter, but were still outscored 26-12. The final stanza ended 25-6, Nigeria registering their first win of the tournament in Group C.
Idubamo Beggi was, once again, on fire top scoring for Nigeria with a rare double-double of 20 points and 10 steals, adding 7 assists to her tally. Momoluwa Ayomide Tewogbade added 19 to the tally, pulling down 7 boards, 6 steals, and 4 assists.
Haminatu Ayodeji led Nigeria in rebounding with 12, one more than Abigail Isaac.
Zimbabwe remain winless after two matches.
Hosts South Africa continue to struggle
Up against debutants Cameroon in their second match of group A, hosts South Africa, struggled to impress, going down 107-23.
Cameroon had a strong start, capitalising on South Africa's questionable ball handling and despite causing several turnovers themselves, taking a 26-8 lead.
The Ange Majolie Lonteu-coached Cameroon dominated the second quarter 33-3, leaving no room for the seemingly inept opponents to stage a comeback.
A 48-12 second half, that saw Cameroon restrict South Africa to two points in the final quarter, led the Central Africans to their first ever win in the U18 AfroBasket, done in style.
Egypt edge closer to the quarters in win over Uganda
Egypts second-quarter brilliance propelled them to yet another win, this time in a Zone 5 derby against Uganda, to lead group C after picking a 76-53 victory.
The latter crumbled in the second quarter, having trailed 23-15 in the opening, a 23-07 scoreline giving the North Africans a 24-point lead after the opening half.
The second half was a fairly balanced quarters with Egypt taking the third 18-16 while Uganda led 15-12 in the last in a case of too little, too late.
Power Forward Leila Elsanadily led Egypt's charge with a double-double of 15 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and a block while Khadiga Abouelghait followed suit with a 11 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assist you ensure the Egyptians remained perfect.
"We respect Uganda but this was a bad game for us. We were too complacent and that can be seen in our turnovers, giving the ball.aaay 35 times. I, however, did not stock to any systems, I just let the players run regular plays as I know the other strong teams are scouting," offered Mostafa Atef Hadhood who did not shy away from expressing disappointment in his side's performance despite the win.
Top performer
Top highlight
Best picture
FIBA