DAKAR (Senegal) - Marius Ndiaye Arena came alive as home side ASC Ville de Dakar took to the court for the opening match of the 2024 Women's Basketball Basketball League Africa (WBLA) against Cameroon's FAP with the home fans carrying their side to victory.
It was a match of two halves, the visitors dominating the opening half before Moustapha Gaye's side mounted a second half comeback with crucial runs, turnovers for FAP down the stretch proving costly as ASC won the match 57-54.
Elisabeth Dabou led the charge for the home side, scoring 13 and coming a rebound short of a double-double. Foune Sissoko also contributed 13 in the hard-fought victory.
TURNING POINT: A third quarter run for Gaye's side, who had the Arena's support for the entire match, saw them come within a point at 37-36 with 40 seconds in the third quarter. A clutch basket for Elisabeth Dabou saw the home side get the lead for the first time since the opening quarter at 38-37.
An Unsportsmanlike foul for ASC sent FAP to the line, missing once to tie the game at 38 heading to the final quarter.
The Cameroonians pulled away for 51-41 but Gaye's charges went 16-3 in the closing five minutes, to take their biggest lead at 54-51. Sissoko's basket brought the eventual winners back in control as they went on to win.
HERO: Credit to Malian Dabou and Sissoko for going hard at the Cameroonians, especially in the second quarter that they trailed 16-15 and the third that ended 17-11 in their favour.
STATS DON'T LIE: Half (10) of ASC's points in the opening half came off FAP's 17 turnovers, with the home side taking care of the ball better. The Cameroonians failed to adjust in the second half and ASC went 21-6 Gaye's charges dominated the paint 36-22, killing the visitors further 18-03 on fast breaks.
BOTTOM LINE: Despite leading for just 4:19 minutes, home side ASC Ville de Dakar opened their campaign with a win and give themselves a chance in Group A. With home sides winning the competition the four times Dakar has hosted, ASC have big shoes to fill. They play Mountain of Fire Miracles in their next challenge.
The Cameroonians, meanwhile, regroup for their second match of the group where they faced Zone Five champions Ah Ahly on Sunday 8 December.
THEY SAID: "Turning the ball over 32 times at this level is detrimental and they took full advantage to punish us. When they came close my players panicked and failed to execute," FAP head coach Ange Majolie Lonteu.
"I was expecting this kind of competition. It is an African event and never easy. We tried to play a quick game in the first quarter but adjusted to our strengths in the second half which worked. We played their game hence the close encounter but we will adjust going forward. We prepared well, played some friendly matches against some strong sides, including men's teams but this is a different level of competition and the first match has helped us see areas that need to improve before the next encounter," Moustapha Gaye, head coach ASC.
FIBA