Basketball in Africa

There was something peculiar about how both UCU sides – men and women- chalked up an identical 60 points on Friday night at YMCA court.

The slice of history would have made sense to the university had both or either of them won their respective Airtel National Basketball League games.

First on the floor was UCU Lady Canons, beaten 70-60 by rivals KCCA Leopards. Guard Flavia Oketcho scored 22 and eight rebounds to stop UCU’s winning streak at 21 games.

Oketcho, who won a championship with UCU in 2008, played arguably her best game since her return from maternity leave last year. “She was exceptional,” her coach Timothy Odeke said. “In all, we worked hard and I have loved the way we have played today and in the previous game against KIU (Rangers).”

Sarah Nassuna and Martha Soigi, playing for the first time months following a pay dispute, kept Oketcho offensive company with 14 and 11 points, the latter adding nine rebounds.

Their stingy defence kept the two-time defending champions UCU from challenging. If the tiny crowd had thought a 21-8 lead for KCCA was only slow start, the final result proved otherwise.

Peace Proscovia came off the bench to lead with 17 points and 11 rebounds whereas Purity Adhimabo had 12.