The UCU Lady Canons staged a stirring comeback to keep their National Basketball League title hopes alive, defeating the JKL Lady Dolphins 65-50 on Friday night to force a decisive Game Five in the women’s semifinals.
JKL entered the clash on the brink of sealing a finals spot but met a determined UCU side unwilling to bow out quietly. The Mukono-based Canons overcame a sluggish first quarter, where they trailed 10-20, before erupting with a dominant 20-5 second-quarter run that flipped the game in their favor.
Once in control, UCU kept their foot on the gas, outscoring JKL 35-25 in the second half and dominating the boards with a commanding 57-37 rebounding edge. Their relentless defense and composure under pressure proved crucial, as JKL coughed up 25 turnovers and struggled from range, making only six of 22 three-point attempts.
Matrina Anyango led by example with a stellar double-double of 17 points and 16 rebounds. Shilla Lamunu added 10 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, while Sylvia Nakituuka chipped in 11 points to round off a balanced team performance.
JKL’s captain Hope Akello stood out for her side with 15 points, but she found little help from her teammates as UCU’s defense tightened.
With the series now tied at 2-2, all eyes turn to the winner-takes-all Game Five scheduled for Wednesday, where both sides will fight for a spot in the finals against the high-flying JT Lady Jaguars.
