Uganda’s U18 women’s basketball team, the Junior Gazelles triumphed over Kenya with a decisive 97-47 victory in the FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket Qualifiers held at MTN Arena Lugogo on Monday evening.
The match, which tipped off at 5:00 pm GMT, saw Uganda establish a commanding lead early on and maintain their dominance throughout the game.
Uganda ended the first quarter with a 32-11 lead. They continued to build on this momentum, leading 53-28 at halftime. By the end of the third quarter, Uganda had extended their lead to 82-35, ultimately finishing the game with a 50-point margin.
Christine Namyalo led the Ugandan team with an impressive performance, scoring 19 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and providing 6 assists in her 22 minutes on the court. Resty Nanangwe was the top scorer with 23 points, while also contributing 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Shiphrah Kiranda added 8 rebounds to the team’s efforts.
Kenya struggled to keep up with Uganda’s pace and accuracy. Valentine Korir was the standout player for Kenya, scoring 14 points and securing 12 rebounds. Yvonne Sherryl Otieno also made a significant contribution with 11 rebounds.
Uganda’s superior shooting efficiency was evident, with the team achieving a 45% success rate in two-point field goals compared to Kenya’s 34%. The hosts also dominated in assists and steals. Kenya, despite their efforts, could not overcome their 71 turnovers, which proved detrimental to their performance.
Uganda’s next game is scheduled for June 11, 2024, at 5:00 pm, where they will face Tanzania. Meanwhile, Kenya will look to bounce back in their upcoming game against Rwanda.
