South Sudan advanced to the Women’s Afrobasket semifinals on the first time of asking after beating Uganda’s Gazelles, 69-68, on Thursday afternoon.
The game came down to the foul shots in the last minute of the contest, with Rose Akon draining a couple to put the Bright Starlets in the lead while Melissa Akullu missed a couple that could have potentially won the game or sent it to overtime.
The Gazelles were in charge for most of the opening quarter which was played at a very slow, cautious tempo, leading 25-20.
South Sudan dominated the game in the second quarter, powered by some hot shooting from beyond the arc. The Bright Starlets tied the game at 33 with just over six to play and went ahead shortly after on Nyamer Lual’s corner 3.
At the other end, the Gazelles struggled for production with Paige Robinson’s outside shot a bit off and Hope Akello got into foul trouble, sitting out for an extended period. South Sudan took advantage, outscoring the Ugandans 26-1, and took a 6-point lead into the long break.
The Gazelles erased the deficit early but Delicia Washington and Maria Gakdeng kept the Bright Starlets ahead until the last minute of the quarter when Peruth Nyamwenge tied the game and Jane Asinde added a throw to give Uganda a 1-point 60-59 lead going into the last quarter.
Gakdeng (12 points & 13 rebounds) and Washington (17 points) kept the pressure on the Gazelles with the guard driving to the basket from coast to coast on three occasions before Akon (12 points) would finish off Uganda from the line.
Peruth Naymwenge tallied a team-high 16 points for Uganda, skipper Jane Asinde had 15 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists while Robinson contributed 10 points.
