Basketball in Africa

By Dann O’were

Kenya complicated their quarter-finals chances when they fell 42-62 to DR Congo in the on-going Africa Feminine Championships tie in Thies, Senegal, on Tuesday.

After a rest day on Monday in which pundits thought the team would emerge to turn around their chances of proceeding in the tournament, they went wrong from start with DR Congo dominating in every department.

Team officials told SportFest that Kenya got off to a shaky 8-16 start in the opening quarter. The second quarter was not any better as DR Congo widened the lead to 17-10.

After the breather, Kenya, who played better in the last two quarters, closed the gap 11-15 in the third and 13-14 in the last, but again it was too little too late.

This was their third defeat in four matches, having beaten Cape Verde 57-47 in the first match. With a game against reigning champions Nigeria last night, Kenya’s chances have as good as evaporated.

They must beat Nigeria and hope that Cape Verde, who have not won a match, upset Cameroon for the Kenyan girls to slip to the fourth place.

Mirriam Awuor shot 10 points to lead Kenya as none of the players managed to score double figures. Yvonne Akinyi made six and Joyce Makungu scored five points.

Hosts Senegal, Angola and Mali are setting the pace in their respective group matches. The three remained focused and have yet to lose a game after four ties.

In other Group B matches, All Africa Games bronze medalists, Angola, who are Group B leaders, hit Cameroon 63-38.Nigeria recovered to hammer Cape Verde 75-54.

In pool A matches played in Dakar, Senegal crushed Madagascar 100-32, Mali easily thrashed Mozambique 64-46. Tunisia were thumped 45-62 by Ivory Coast.

# posted by afrbk : 11:54