Kenya Ports Authority dimmed Rwanda Energy Group 101-97 to reach a first-ever Africa Women’s Basketball League final.
The clash at the Alexandria Sports Club gymnasium in Alexandria, Egypt, lived up to expectations from start to finish.
In a balanced first quarter, KPA’s Victoria Reynolds sunk two three-pointers from the wings that saw the dock women go past REG for a 29-24 advantage.
REG locked it 29-29 inside the first minute of the second quarter on a shot by Nia Clouden. Then two treys by Hilda Indasi from the wings saw KPA move up 35-29. Another one by Aminata Semmaseko had it 38-33.
But Chantal Kiyobe scored on a break as REG went ahead 39-38 with 4:47 to play. Indasi responded, making the scores 43-39 in a nip-and-tuck encounter but REG closed in again at 43-42.
A Madina Okot three-point play pushed KPA 46-42 before another three-pointer by Natalie Akinyi gave KPA a deserved 54-47 halftime cushion.
A determined KPA continued from where they left in the first half with Reynolds, Indasi and Akinyi causing havoc as they went ahead 68-54 with under three minutes played.
It was race against time for REG as they trailed by eight points at 79-71 on a shot by Tiffany Mitchell. KPA surged ahead 83-74 as the third ended.
Okot’s free shot opened the fourth quarter, at 84-74. REG managed a score of their own but KPA replied right back to frustrate their opponents’ efforts.
Midway through the deciding stanza, KPA hanged on 91-87 after Mitchell’s three but Reynolds’ basket pushed KPA right up again at 98-89.
Mitchel was hit with a technical foul with the scores at 95-92 with 3:00 to play, sending Akinyi to the foul line. She missed one nailing the other before Okot hit one more foul shot for a 97-92 edge.
Destiny Promise’s free three-pointer had REG down 99-97 but Indasi ad Reynolds rounded it as celebrations started. It will be the first podium finish for KPA in their long road in the championship.
Akinyi and Reynolds registered 26 points each, Indasi notched 17, Rita Aluoch made 14 and Okot had 12. Promise nailed a game-high 41 points for the losers, who also had 24 from Michell and 17 from Clouden.
In a classification game played earlier, Hawks registered a 75-54 win over Universite de Douala of Cameroon. Judith Pantaleo scored 13 points, Melissa Akinyi shot 12 and Betty Kananu had 11.
