Nigeria’s senior women national basketball team, D’Tigress are through to the final of the ongoing FIBA AfroBasket Women’s Championship in Cameroon.
D’Tigress Saturday night showed why they are the team to beat at least on the continent as they roared to a 73-63 points victory over the Lionesses of Senegal.
Coach Otis Hughley tutored side began Saturday’s semi final contest with their trademark firery start as they romped to a 22-11lead in the first quarter.
Though the D’Tigress also won the second quarter, it was more balanced at 23-20.
The third quarter was still won by the D’Tigress with just two points at 15-13.
While the Lionesses tried to salvage the game in the final quarter which they won 19-13, it was not enough to deny D’Tigress their place in the finals where they will be facing Mali.
Mali in the earlier semi final contest narrowly defeated hosts Cameroon by just one point; edging the contest 52-51.
Now in their third consecutive final, Nigeria want to become only the second nation to win three straight AfroBasket crowns since Senegal dit in 1970s.
Nothing suggests Mali will be pushovers in Sunday’s final as they have also been ruthless at this year’s tournament.
They topped Group D, thumping Tunisia 101-39 before edging Cote d’Ivoire 76-63 and going past Angola 74-53 in the Quarter-Finals.
Going into the semi final games, Mali the 2007 champions were the highest scoring side averaging 88.5 points and 13 steals per game
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