25 September 2007
KENYA : Rough Ride for Kenya in Dakar Contest
By Caxton Apollo
Nairobi
Kenya recovered to beat Cape Verde 57-47 in their second match of the 19th Africa Women's Basketball Championship in Thies, Senegal, at the weekend before falling to Cameroon 59-53. The Kenyans, who had a made a false start in their Pool B opener, losing 62-44 to Angola, recovered against Cape Verde after going down 19-11 in first quarter.
Boosted by five internationals who featured at the recent All Africa Games in Algiers, the Kenyans were on fire in the second quarter in which they demolished Cape Verde 14-2. Kenya led 25-21 at half-time.
Coached by Kenya Ports Authority's Anthony Ojukwu, Kenya, led by Joyce Makungu and Millicent Anyango, gave their opponents a run for their money with a 10-11 and 18-17 advantage in the third and fourth quarters.
Miriam Awuor and Anyango each scored 10 points for Kenya while Makungu and Caroline "Majeng" Achieng each added nine. Against Cameroon, Kenya trailed by margins of 15-19 and 10-17 in the first and second quarters before levelling the third 12-12 and winning the fourth 16-11 but failed to overhaul the final scoreline that read 59-53 in favour of Cameroon.
Kenya now come up against Nigeria and the Democratic republic of Congo this week looking for wins to stay in touch.
Nigeria made a good start when they beat Cameroon 62-35.
In Pool A, in Dakar, hosts Senegal beat Cote d' Ivoire 62-37, Mali walloped Tunisia 93-49 while Mozambique whitewashed Madagascar 83-33.
Against Angola, Kenya, who are making their first appearance at the championship since 1997, failed to click from the first whistle as the Angolans led 14-8 in the first quarter. Kenya went down 19-16 in the second quarter as Angola went a head to outscore them 33-18 at half-time and had little opposition in racing to a 16-15 and 13-11 lead in the last two quarters. Caroline "Majeng" Achieng scored 11 points for Kenya.
On the local scene, Hilda Luvandwa scored 16 points while Linda Alando and Caroline Ouma each added 11 as Sprite Storms registered a 71-39 win over visiting Kisumu Cruisers in the national league at Nyayo Stadium at the weekend.
Wilkister Oduor, formerly of the disbanded Telkom, scored 14 points for Cruisers who were down 20-18 at half-time.
