Wednesday, August 2
•Cameroon 77-80 Senegal
•Mali 96-40 Guinea
•Rwanda 66-61 Uganda
•Nigeria 59-52 Mozambique
Uganda Women’s National Basketball team, the Gazelles, have suffered Afrobasket elimination in hands of hosts Rwanda.
The Gazelles lost 61-66 to Rwanda in Wednesday’s Quarterfinals and will now drop to classification games to fight for fifth position.
It’s a result hard to take in for the Gazelles who threw away a 11-point lead after the first quarter.
Notably, the game’s turning point arrived in the second quarter with 3:51 on the clock when Forward Jane Asinde poorly landed to be taken off hurt.
Then leading by seven points, Uganda conceded a 1-21 run as Rwanda took charge.
The Gazelles closed the game to within three points with a minute to go in the last quarter, but Rwanda held on to storm their first ever semifinals.
The result ends Gazelles’ fairytale run that started with a shocking win over 11-time winners Senegal before eliminating two-time winners DR Congo to make their maiden quarterfinals.
Jannon Otto who played every minute, finished with 31 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists.
Melissa Akullu also came out with a double double of her own, gathering 16 points and 13 rebounds, but in a losing effort.
Ineza Sifa (19), Destiny Philoxy Promise (16) and Janai Crooms (15) scored in double digits for the hosts.
Rwanda are through to the semis and will face Nigeria whoo has eliminated Mozambique.
Mozambique will hence meet Gazelles in the fight for 5-8 placement games, where Cameroon/Guinea are part.
Senegal meet Mali in the other Semifinal after the two eliminated Cameroon and Guinea respectively.
