Magic Stormers staged a remarkable comeback to edge out KIU Rangers 75-73 in the women’s National Basketball League encounter at the Lugogo Indoor Arena on Wednesday, securing only their second win of the season.
The game, broadcast live on NBS Sport 2 exclusively on AfroMobile, saw KIU Rangers explode out of the gates, dominating the first quarter with a blistering 26-6 run that left Magic Stormers reeling.
However, Magic Stormers showed resilience from the second quarter, netting 20+ points in each of the three remaining quarters to claim the narrow victory.
The Stomers netted 24 points in the second quarter compared to the Rangers’ 19, before outscoring them 24-19 in the third quarter to narrow the gap, and then unleashing a decisive 24-15 fourth-quarter surge, capped by clutch plays in the final minutes.
KIU Rangers were leading the game 73-71 with 18 seconds to go, before Magic Stormers’ Joy Nekesa Mupalia pulled a shot from downtown that twisted the game in her team’s favour, and Barbra Gimbo netted one of the two free throws with one second on the clock that sealed the two-point victory.
Daphine Adong led the Stormers’ charge with 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists, showcasing her all-around game, while Kur Ajah contributed a solid double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds.
For KIU Rangers, captain Ines Kanyamuneza once against delivered a standout performance with 15 points and a game-high 15 rebounds, plus 7 assists, while her assistant Sharon Kirabo erupted for a game-high 31 points and 13 rebounds, but their efforts fell just short despite strong team rebounding and better field goal percentage of 44% compared to the Stormers’ 31%.
The win lifts Magic Stormers to 10th in the standings with 9 points from their first 7 games, while KIU Rangers climb to eighth with 10 points despite suffering their fourth loss in seven outings.
Magic Stormers will look to build on this momentum when they face defending champions JKL Lady Dolphins on Saturday at ABJA Park. KIU Rangers, meanwhile, take on UPDF Lady Tomahawks the same day at the same venue.
Meanwhile, in the men’s fixture at the same venue, aired live on NBS Sport, defending champions Namuwongo Blazers asserted their dominance with a convincing 71-52 victory over KCCA Panthers, extending their winning streak to four in five games this season.
The Blazers weathered a tight first quarter that ended 13-12 in favour of the Panthers, before pulling away with consistent scoring in the subsequent periods: 19-12 in the second, 21-14 in the third, and 19-13 in the fourth.
Jimmy Enabu paced the Blazers with a game-high 16 points and 5 rebounds, supported by Moses Mugisha and Nyembo Fataki Franck, who also registered double figure piints of 15 and 12 respectively.
Imran Samati, on the other hand, led KCCA with 13 points, while Davis Assimwe added 10, but the Panthers struggled to match the Blazers’ intensity.
The result propels Namuwongo to 7th in the standings with 4 wins in 5 games, their lone loss coming on the hands of City Oilers on opening day, while KCCA Panthers sit 5th with 3 wins and 4 losses in 7 games.
Namuwongo next faces JKL Dolphins on Saturday at ABJA Park, while KCCA Panthers take on UCU Canons at Lugogo on Sunday.
Elsewhere in the other two games played at YMCA Wandegeya, Kampala Rockets defeated UPDF Tomahawks 64-58, while Victoria She Crocs fell to Pearl Queens 43-69.
