Lionesses face tormentors Rwanda in Afrobasket Zone Five semis

National Women's Basketball team, Kenya Lionesses, take on Rwanda in one of two semi final matches of the ongoing FIBA Afrobasket Zone Five qualifiers set for Friday, 16 July at the Kigali Arena 7pm. 

Coach George Mayienga's charges have the herculean task of turning tables on the hosts after the comprehensive 77-45 loss in the preliminary stages of the qualifier, for a chance to fight for the Afrobasket ticket in the final. 

Playing against the hosts, Egypt and South Sudan, Lionesses picked one win against the newbies, South Sudan and threw away a 25-point lead at half time to Egypt to lose 107-106 adding to their loss to Rwanda. 

In the two loses, it was evident the Kenyans struggled with a full court press and if they are to go past Rwanda, who probably will come out guns blazing to prove their win in the preliminary stages was no fluke, Lionesses will have to find a better way to deal with the pressure that comes with such a defence. 

Kenya had started their preliminary match against Rwanda on a high, leading 11-9 in the first five minutes of the encounter. Egypt, however assumed lead to head to the first quarter break leading 23-18. The second quarter was closely contested with Lionesses cutting the deficit to three points and maintaining it for a 33-30 going to the half time break.

Kenya lost the match in the third quarter, managing a single basket in the entire period. Lionesses gave up possession 33 times, handing Rwanda 31 points from said turnovers while scoring just six from the ten turnovers Rwanda gave. 

Both sides scored 13 points in the final quarter but Rwanda had already sealed their win with the 25 points scored in the third period while restricting Lionesses to one basket. 

In her post match interview, Lionesses captain Rose Ouma said the the team would regroup and come back better. 

"I believe we did not execute the way we should have. They put us under pressure and it got to us. The first five minutes we were fine but Rwanda changed their defense on us and we failed to adjust accordingly. On offense, we rushed our possession and didn't settle into our plays to execute. We go back and look at where we failed like valuing our possession and getting the points in" said Ouma. 

Egypt, who remain unbeaten, are the favourites in the other semi final against debutants South Sudan who are yet to register a win.