Nigeria female national basketball team D’Tigress suffered a 93-86 defeat at the hands of hosts France in their Group A match at the ongoing FIBA women’s world cup qualifiers in Astroballe, Lyon.
France led from the first quarter and they did not relinquish it despite Nigeria claiming the third quarter by six points, and staging a fourth quarter comeback that was smothered in the closing stages.
Amy Okonkwo led the girls with 16 points, closely followed by the duo of Elizabeth Balogun and Murjanatu Musa with 15 points apiece. Ezinne Kalu also posted 14 points as Nigeria produced a spirited but ultimately futile second half performance.
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France took control of the game from the jump off, taking a 6-0 lead early on before running away with the quarter on the back of another six-point 12-6 sequence, before a late rally reduced by D’Tigress reduced the first quarter loss to eight points at 29-21.
It was more of the same in the second quarter with France opening an 8-0 lead they stealthily increased to 11 points, but another late rally led by Okonkwo and Balogun saw Nigeria post a 7-0 run that reduced the second quarter deficit to four points, but France increased their halftime lead to 12 points at 57-45.
Rena Wakama’s side started the third quarter all guns blazing and raced to a 5-0 lead at the start, and they also posted an 8-0 sequence midway through the quarter, to eventually take the quarter by six points. The fourth and final quarter was keenly contested as both sides exchanged points, but France ultimately prevailed to claim victory.
It is a second straight win for France over Nigeria who suffered their second defeat at the ongoing FIBA World Cup qualifiers while the hosts remain unbeaten. Nigeria will face Germany in the final group match at the qualifier tournament on Tuesday, 17 March.
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