Hosts Club Sportif Sfaxien into African Champions Cup for Women semis
SFAX (African Champions Cup for Women) - Dolphins' attempt to become the second Nigerian team to reach the Semi-Finals of the 2014 African Champions Cup for Women (ACCW) was ended on Friday following a
SFAX (African Champions Cup for Women) - Dolphins' attempt to become the second Nigerian team to reach the Semi-Finals of the 2014 African Champions Cup for Women (ACCW) was ended on Friday following a 66-64 defeat to hosts Club Sportif Sfaxien (CSS).
Britanny Denson led the way for CSS, hitting six of her 10 field goal attempts to finish with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Tunisian internationals Thouraya Adsi and Siwar Khlifa, who combined for 23 points and 15 boards.
Togolese Akpene Kodjo, a key piece for Dolphins, came up with her second double-double of the tournament (21 points and 11 rebounds), while Ndidiamaka Nwakamma added 20 points, but they lacked support from the bench, which contributed only seven points.
As a result of their second consecutive defeat in the event, Dolphins (3-2) will face Club Sportif Police de Circulation (CSPC) - a team they beat 68-59 in the Preliminary Round - in Saturday's classification game.
Meanwhile, CSS will try to become the first Tunisian team in 19 years to play in the Final. Stade Tunisien was the last to achieve the rare feat when they won the 1995 edition of the ACCW.
But first CSS will have to beat Angolan champions Primeiro D'Agosto, who edged out CSPC 80-72 in Friday's second Quarter-Final.
In that game, Democratic Republic of Congo international Betty Kalanga's effort for CSPS were not enough to deny a Leia Dongue-led D'Agosto.
Kalanga ran up and down the floor for 39 minutes and scored a team-high 20 points. However, Dongue showed why she is one of the top performers on the African continent by scoring more than 20 points for the third time in four games.
The Mozambican ace went for 25 points and 13 rebounds and had five team-mates score in double figures.
Later in the day, Nigerian side First Bank bolstered their chances of claiming a third ACCW title - the won in 2003 and 2009 - after beating INSS from the DR Congo 83-71 to reach the last four.
Hortis Ahongo, one of the standout players of the tournament, powered INSS with game-highs of 25 points and seven rebounds.
But First Bank, lining-up with some of Nigerian national team key members, were determined to seal their third consecutive victory. They were paced by Ndidi Madu, who poured in 18 points and grabbed four rebounds.
First Bank will take on ACCW reigning champions InterClube de Luanda in a highly-anticipated Semi-Final on Saturday. The Angolans eased past Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) 68-40 in Friday's first Quarter-Final.
The Kenyans will take on INSS in Saturday's other classification game.
Go to http://sfax2014.fibaafrica.com/ for full coverage of the tournament and tune into FIBA's YouTube channel for games' highlights and press conferences from the tournament.
FIBA