Lionesses bounce back with victory against Cape Verde

Victoria Reynolds and Christine Akinyi came alive for Kenya Lionesses in the team's second match at the Women's Afrobasket, against Cape Verde, to help Kenya pick maximum points in a 61-58 outcome. 

Heading into the match played on Sunday 19 September, Kenya needed a win that would guarantee them a favourable draw in the pre-quarter playoffs and they went hard on the islanders. 

"We had a better game than we did against the hosts on the first day and the players remained motivated through the match. We are still struggling with turnovers as well as rebounding but we were better off today. As the competition progresses, I believe we will get better," said Lionesses assistant coach Mike Opel after the match. 

Reynolds led the scoring for Kenya with 17 points while Mercy Wanyama was the team's top rebounder at 10 rebounds. Cape Verde's best performer Joseana Vaz picked a double-double for her side, top scoring at 18 points and rebounding 12 times. Natalie Akinyi led Kenya's assist chat with six. Christine was Kenya's second best scorer with 14 points. 

The match started rather slowly, the teams managing only seven points in the first five minutes, four in favour of Lionesses. Wanyama won the jump ball and three seconds later Reynolds had opened the account for Lionesses with a driving layup. 

Ornela Livramento punished Kenya for a turnover with a trey to take Cape Verde ahead within the first minute of the match.

The next four minutes were an eyesore as both teams traded turnovers, missed layups as well as three point shots.

Wanyama had a chance to take Kenya ahead after drawing a foul but she missed both free throws. Coach George Mayienga made a change with 5.32 minutes to play, bringing in Brenda Wasuda for Vilma Owino. 12 seconds later Melissa Akinyi put Kenya ahead with two free throws for the match to hit the five-minute mark with the score reading 4-3. 

The two sides stepped things up in the next five minutes with the East Africans driving into the basket for points while Cape Verde made their attempts from outside the arc without success. 

Kenya took a five-point lead at 10-5 promoting the islanders to call for a timeout. However, it was the Kenyans who went on the first quarter break with a four-point advantage at 16-12. 

Cape Verde turned the tables on Kenya in the second quarter, rallying from behind to score 21 against Kenya's 12 to head to the half time break with a five-pointadvantage. Mayienga had substituted Selina Okumu and Christine in towards the end of the first quarter but their contribution was not felt until the second quarter and in the second half.

Kenya struggled to make points in the first two minutes of the third quarter. Christine was brought back in for Owino and alongside Natalie, Reynolds, Melissa and Wanyama they began steadying the ship. Kenya scored 15 points against Cape Verde's 13 to trail by three points going into the final period. 

Okumu reduced the advantage to half a basket in the second minute of the final period with a jump shot. Wasuda, missed a jump shot, hustled for the offensive rebound and proceeded to make the layup handing Kenya back her lead with 7.46 minutes to play at 47-46. 

Okumu stretched the lead to 49-46 with a jump shot while skipper Rose Ouma made a three pointer to extend the lead to six points. Joseana and Monalisa Mendes got Cape Verde back to the lead at 52-51, the latter drilling a trey that was preceded by a Joseana layup before a jump shot to reclaim the lead for her team. 

Reynolds equaled the score at 54 and the two sides were again tied at 58 points in a neck-to-neck fight for a win. Okumu converted one of two free throws with Christine making the final basket for the win.