The Nigeria women’s basketball team, D’Tigress has become the second team in Africa after Senegal to win three FIBA Afrobasket women championship titles on the bounce and their fifth overall, after beating Mali 70-59 in the final on Sunday.
In the first quarter, the unbeaten Tigresses through Victoria Macaulay made a Game-High 13pts, and 3/3 of her 3pt shots, as quarter ended Mali 11 -22 Nigeria.
It took some time for D’Tigress to find the bucket in the second quarter, but when they did it was back-to-back. Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah made a layup, and Ezinne Kalu followed it up with a steal to assist Promise Amukamara.
Mali managed to come back into the game after outshooting Nigeria in the second quarter by 13-9. However D’Tigress go into the break leading Mali by 7pts as we headed into halftime with Mali 24 -31 Nigeria.
D’Tigress went into a 10pt lead after Ezinne Kalu converted her two free throws, and at the other end, Victoria Macaulay blocked a shot.
With n outstanding third quarter the Nigerians Tigresses outhustled the Malians and showed great resolve pulling away with a 20pt lead, outshooting their opponents 28-14.
Nigeria won two of the four quarters 11-22, 13-9, 14-28, 21-11 as the game ended in favour of Nigeria with a 11 points victory.
D’Tigress FIBA Afrobasket women championship titles:
2003
2005
2017
2019
2021
MOLATsportgist 