- KCCA Leopards 57-65 UCU Lady Canons (Lady Canons lead series 1-0)
The 2017 National Basketball League Playoffs finals of the women’s division got underway last night.
For a seventh year running, KCCA Leopards and UCU Lady Canons are facing off in the seven-game series with the first game played at Lugogo Indoor Stadium.
Leopards that had not tasted defeat heading into the finals and looking to dethrone their rivals who have won the last two titles will need to be at their mercurial best if they are to revive their title hopes having lost the opening game of the series.
And it gets no tougher as they will have to do it without Martha Soigi who has been arguably their best ‘big man’ over the years.
KCCA head coach Roger Sserunyigo told the media after the game that Leopards intended to hold Lady Canons under 50 points but their first half defense did not help their cause.
An 18-10 first quarter followed by a 19-9 second quarter both in favour of UCU Lady Canons sunk Leopards in a hole so deep.
While both sides struggled to score from the field, KCCA quickly got over the foul limit in every quarter. The 38 trips to the line (with 22 makes) Lady Canons had proved the difference in the game.
Judith Nansobya scored game high 19 points to lead UCU. Velma Achieng, Zainah Lokwameri and Sarah Ageno all reached double figures with scores of 13, 12 and 10 points respectively.
UCU’s front court trio Ageno, Achien and Lokwameri cleaned the glass picking 15, 13 and 12 rebounds respectively as only Larissa Katungeko provided opposition.
Moreen Amoding, Cynthia Irankunda and Grace Wanjiku were the only KCCA players to reach double and each contributed 12 points.
