Mozambican basketball powerhouse Costa do Sol were made to sweat over their second victory in the ongoing FIBA Africa Women's Champions Cup as they overcame Kenya Ports Authority (KPA)’s threat with a hard-fought 73-62 victory during Sunday’s club basketball battle held at the Pavilhão da Universidade Eduardo Mondlane in Maputo, Mozambique.
The home side's shooting guard Ingvild Mucauro's 22 points inspired her team to victory while Eleuteria Lhavanguane (12) and team captain Shelsea Rafeal (10) were key to the team’s result.
Ifunaya Okoro contributed 19 points for KPA and Madina Okoth had a double-double (10 points and 14 rebounds) but the duo’s contribution was not enough for the East Africans to take the result they wanted.
Both teams came into the game, having suffered defeats at the hands of Interclube and they knew a victory would boost their confidence ahead of the rest of the campaign.
The first quarter proved to be an intense one, with Mucauro leading her team's attack and putting together nine points and four rebounds, Azibaye Dangosu posted seven for KPA to keep his team in the game. But it was Costa who went into the quarter with a 22-21 lead.
Mucauro increased her points tally with back-to-back points, the first being a mid-range from the corner and a three-pointer at the top of the arc, which gave the home club a 32-23 lead. Costa added eight more points to close out the first half leading 40-33.
The second half saw the Kenyans fighting to keep themselves in the encounter and managed to score 17, but Costa do Sol outscored them by a single point in the third.
In the fourth quarter, with four minutes left, three points (63-60) separated Costa do Sol and KPA, with the home club maintaining the lead.
Unfortunately, KPA made some costly errors that allowed the Maputo-based side to make a 10-point lead and go on to win the game, their second victory in the competition.
Sporting too tough for APR
Egypt's Alexandria Sporting Club's experience proved to be too tough for the Rwandan club in the second round of matches of Group B. Sporting won the encounter, 89-68.
Despite the margin of defeat, the Rwandan club were in no way embarrassed and, from the start of the final quarter (77-53), they put together an 11-point scoring run.
But, having their squad reduced to nine players, APR would run out of steam, and the Egyptians strolled to a 21-point victory.
Assouma Uwizeye scored 16 points for the military side while Stacy Usanase and Jordan Umuhoza dropped 13 points and 11 points respectively. They did all they could but the shortage of depth in the squad always remained a huge challenge to cope with.
"It was a great game, and they are a respectable team. We had also seen them play in the Zone 5 games, so we knew what to expect. But I was hundred per cent sure we would come out with the win. I have confidence in my team and I am certain we will win this tournament," said team captain Hagar Amer, who finished the game with 23 points.
"All the teams here are good, but we have one goal and we hope to achieve it at the end."
InterClube extend winning streak
Angola's InterClube stretched their unbeaten run to 3-0 in the competition after a comprehensive 83-49 victory over Energie BBC in the opening game day in Group A.
Center Cristina Matiquite was in fine form during her second game where she led the scoring for Inter with 17 points, and it was her third scoring in double figures. Shooting guard Rosa Gala again led in the statistical department by posting 8 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists.