FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Qualifiers: Lionesses roar past Rwanda in Day 3 action

The Kenya Women’s basketball team – Lionesses secured yet another victory- their second in the ongoing FIBA Zone V Women’s Afrobasket Qualifiers, breezing past Rwanda 69-58 in a Thursday afternoon clash at the MTN Arena in Lugogo, Uganda.

In what turned to be a tight game midway through the third quarter, the Lionesses had to commit themselves on both ends of the floor – especially in defense, where they limited Rwanda to only 12 fourth quarter points and multiple turnovers to seal off the 11 point victory.

The win pushes Kenya (2 wins in 2) to the top of the group standings as the only unbeaten side in the competition.

Led by a superb performance from Mercy Wanyama –who finished the game with a team-high 16 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists – Kenya opened proceedings on a high note, leading 13-0 in the first seven minutes of the game before Marie Imanizabayo’s deep three with 2:57 left in the period put the Rwandese side on the board.

A couple from Imortal Tcar’s Victoria Reynolds would see Kenya take a 17-5 advantage to the break before a ferocious rally from Rwanda came knocking hard.

Exposing the Kenyan defense, Rwanda opted to go tempo, shuffling their players around for open threes.

Diamond Richardson opened the floodgates of threes that rained in that quarter, sinking one inside the first minute of the second quarter to make the score 17-10.

The next three came inside the halfway mark of the quarter, Richardson again finding a way to pull the Rwandans to within nine in a stodgy quarter.

Odile Tetero, scorer of a game high 18 points, added a couple of shots from beyond the arc before setting up Umuhoza to close the gap to a meagre six points.

What was once a 13-0 advantage for Kenya had all of a sudden in one quarter been reduced to four points as both teams headed to the locker rooms. Rwanda had overpowered Kenya 20-12 in that quarter.

After the break, Rwanda rallied early to take their first lead of the game as the aforementioned Tetero knocked a three to put her side 32-30 up with 8:32 left in the third quarter.

A Mercy Wanyama layup and a big three from Melissa Otieno pushed Kenya back into the lead and they never looked back.

Victoria Reynold’s impact in the next few minutes was clear as she scored back to back baskets on the fast break before Mercy Wanyama and lanky Madina Okot added six points from the free throw line to extend Kenya’s lead to six at 42-36.

Christine Akinyi stars for Lionesses in win over Gazelles

Rose Ouma made four of her seven points in the last two minutes to see Kenya take a lead into the final period.

Showing much confidence in their play, the Lionesses dominated the closing moments of the game, making a 10-0 run in the opening two minutes of the quarter to take their lead to double digits.

Christine Akinyi was visible as she made frequent trips to the basket and so did Natalie Akinyi and Rose Ouma in sealing the much-needed victory.

Victoria Reynolds led the team in efficiency, with a +16 in her 15 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists performance. Melissa Otieno poured 12 points from the bench as Christine Akinyi and Madina Okot added seven points and 10 rebounds respectively.

Kenya next takes on South Sudan on Friday afternoon before facing off with Egypt on Saturday.