Equity, KPA through to AWBL qualifier semis

Equity Bank Hawks and Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) women’s league champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) are through to the Africa Women Basketball League (AWBL) qualifier semis.

The matches, ongoing in Kigali, Rwanda saw the two Kenyan sides top pool A and B and head to the quarters as favourites. Hawks took on Nile Legends from South Sudan while KPA played Tanzania champions Vijana Queens.

Benson Oluoch’s charges dominated the paint with their bench power also coming to the fore outscoring their opponents 52-26 and 42-11 in the two areas as they won the match 72-43. They were 25-19 on points from turnovers, 17-06 from fast breaks and 08-10 for second chance points.

The bankers jumped to a quick start, racing to a 16-06 lead in the first quarter to send an early warning shot to the South Sudanese side. A second-quarter score of 21-06 saw the Kenyan side lead 37-12 at the interval. The second half was closely fought for 20-15 and 15-15 but Nile’s efforts for a comeback were too little too late to change the game in their favour.

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Vallary Kemunto and Maryann Nyagaki led the scoring for the bankers with 15 and 12 respectively while pulling down three rebounds each. Betty Kananu pulled down 10 rebounds, the highest in this match for the Kenyans, adding 5 assists and 4 steals for the win.

Rhoda Nagitta, who has been consistent for the South Sudanese team scored 19, collecting 7 rebounds and 4 steals to finish the match as the best performer for her side despite the loss.

Elsewhere, KPA continued their unbeaten streak as they ran rings around Vijana Queens for a commanding 81-36 victory that continues to cement their ‘favourite’ tag.

The Antony Ojukwu-led dockers held nothing back from the get-go, going hard for a 23-07 lead after the first ten minutes. There was no stopping the Kenyan champions as they played for a 26-11 second quarter to carry a 31-point advantage into the halftime break. The second half quarters were won 21-08 and 11-10 for the 45-point victory.

Rita Aluoch scored her first double-double of the championship with 10 points and 13 rebounds but it was Aminata Samassekou who went for the woman of the match performance with 16 points, 7 assists and 6 steals. Selina Okumu added 13 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals in the win as Morgan Greene scored 11.

Tupenge Lazaro led the numbers for Vijana Queens with a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds as her side was dominated on all fronts by the ruthless Mombasa-based side.

Equity Bank will now play the winner between Gladiators of Burundi and Rwanda Energy Group (REG) while KPA renews rivalry with JKL Lady Dolphins of Uganda who managed to defeat APR of Rwanda 75-58.