WBL-AQ: KPA go down as Al Ahly, REG qualify
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 01.11.24. | 21:45
Action concludes on Saturday with Ojukwu's charges facing APR in the third-place match
Al Ahly Sporting Club of Egypt and Rwanda Energy Group (REG) are through to the FIBA Zone Five Women's Basketball League-Africa (WBL-Africa) set for December 6 to 15 in Dakar.
Tarek Abouzeid-led AL Ahly humbled the Zone's defending champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) 104-63 to book their ticket to the African competition.
On their part, REG won their derby against APR of Rwanda 82-77 and will make back-to-back appearances in the continental showpiece where they made their debut last year, finishing fourth.
A 20-0 lead, for Al Ahly in the opening quarter of their match against KPA was a humbling Ojukwu's charges were not ready for.
Alima Doumbia, who finished with 23 points, saved KPA's blushes, opening their account with 3.35 minutes on the clock for 20-02 but the dismal show continued for the African silver medalists who found themselves down 28-04, Hilda Indasi scoring the other basket down the stretch.
KPA's still trailed 35-14 four minutes into the second period, Nadine Mohamed and Raneem Elgedawy doing most of the damage with 10 and 8 points so far. KPA went on their biggest scoring run so far, sinking 10 for 45-26 as the quarter end 50-26.
Al Ahly maintained their momentum off the locker rooms, going on a 19-10 run in the opening half of the third stanza to lead 69-36, further doubling their advantage at 75-37 and there was no chance for a comeback for the Antony Ojukwu-coached Dockers despite a 22-all third quarter. A 34-18 final quarter sealed the win for Abouzeid's charges.
"I could see frustration in my players and I did not understand where from early in the game. We did not execute on our plan as we had intended, but for the second quarter where we had some flashes of brilliance. There was a lot of individualism in my team and Al Ahly took advantage to run us down and really punished us on the paint," coach Ojukwu said.
Meanwhile, Victoria Reynolds dropped 26 points with a 10-of-11 on the paint, adding 10 assists and coming two rebounds shy of a triple-double in 37 minutes for a game-high 37 on efficiency, leading REG to their win.
Kristina Morgan King who was also good for 10-of-13 on the paint finished with a double-double of 21 points and 14 rebounds as the duo propelled REG past their countrymen.
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