In a high-stakes encounter in Kigali, Equity Hawks clashed against home team APR in the final pool match of the Women’s Africa Basketball League qualifiers, vying for the top spot in Group A.
Securing their second win in the group, Equity triumphed over Burundi’s Gladiators with a commanding 77-45 victory, following an initial strong start to their campaign by defeating Tanzanian champions Vijana Queens 98-66.
A win against the local team would guarantee the Bankers the coveted top spot in the group and a sure ticket to the quarterfinals. Equity’s entry into the championship came after last season’s league-losing finalists, Zetech University, withdrew, and they have made a remarkable impression in Kigali.
Facing the Gladiators, the bankers faced a relatively slow start, initially leading 10-6 in the opening five minutes. However, they found themselves trailing during the latter part of the quarter after allowing a seven-point scoring streak by the Gladiators.
The Kenyan side managed to level the score at 16 points by the end of the period. Equity seemed to regain their momentum in the second period, dominating the Gladiators with a 21-10 outcome, giving them an 11-point lead going into halftime.
The second half mirrored the first in its pattern, with the Burundi side maintaining a tight defensive grip in the third quarter, resulting in a 13-9 outcome in favour of the Kenyan team. However, the Gladiators seemed to falter in the final stanza, leading to a 27-10 scoring run and a comprehensive 32-point loss.
Grace Malu, playing for just over 27 minutes, made a significant impact with 19 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 assists. She combined effectively with Christine Akinyi (16), Betty Kananu (13), and Melissa Otieno (10), all contributing double-digit scores in the triumph. Vallary Kemunto excelled by securing 10 rebounds, leading the statistical performance for the team.
In another Group B match, national champions Kenya Ports Authority aimed to maintain an unbeaten record as they faced South Sudan’s Nile Legends.
In their third competition match against hosts Rwanda Energy Group (REG), the dockers started evenly, tying at 13 points in the first quarter. However, they showcased more precision in the subsequent three quarters, securing a 72-42 victory with scores of 19-6, 17-16, and 23-7, respectively.
KPA, seeking to reclaim their title after losing the Zone Five title to Egypt’s Alexandria Sporting last year, saw Madina Okot shine with 19 points and an equal number of rebounds in the 35.27 minutes she played.
Victoria Reynolds impressed, contributing a game-high 20 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and four steals, while Morgan Greene added 10 points to the team’s tally.
