Gazelles captain Jane Asinde delivered another standout performance as Uganda secured an 83-69 victory over South Sudan last evening in the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Qualifiers at Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall.
Asinde, who plays professionally in China with Henan Phoenix, was at her dominant best, leading the game with 28 points; the highest individual tally in a single match so far in the tournament.
The forward also registered nine rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks in a performance that reinforced her status as the tournament’s top scorer with 70 points so far.
The Gazelles, looking to bounce back from their narrow 62-65 defeat to Egypt, wasted no time asserting control.
Asinde set the tone for their dominant start, attacking the basket relentlessly and registering eight first-quarter points.
Shakirah Nanvubya also played a key role, hitting two three-pointers and also finishing the period with eight points, helping the Gazelles establish a 27-17 lead.
South Sudan, fresh off a dominant win over Kenya, and led by Gazelle’s former head coach Alberto Antuna, threatened a comeback in the second quarter with a 10-3 run that cut Uganda’s lead to three.
However, Shakirah Nanvubya’s fourth three-pointer shifted momentum back to the Gazelles, who tightened their defense and surged to a 50-31 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, South Sudan found success from beyond the arc, hitting four three-pointers, but Uganda’s dominance in the paint proved decisive.
Jane Asinde (8 points), Hope Akello (4 points), and Claire Lamunu (6 points) controlled the interior as the Gazelles extended their advantage to 68-51.
Delicia Washington fought back with nine fourth-quarter points, finishing with 24, but Uganda managed the game well to secure a vital victory.
The win propels Uganda into second place with two wins from three games, keeping their hopes alive for a top-two finish.
Asinde has been flawless since the tournament began on Monday. She powered Uganda to a dominant 78-56 victory over Kenya, registering a game-high 24 points and nine rebounds.
In the next game, she was equally impressive, scoring 18 points and grabbing five rebounds as Uganda pushed hosts Egypt to the limit before falling 65-62.
Asinde’s superb performance against South Sudan caps it all off.
The team will ride on their skipper’s form when they face Burundi later today in their last group stage game that kicks off at 6 pm EAT.
Another strong showing against Burundi will keep Uganda firmly in contention for a place at the AfroBasket finals in Ivory Coast.
