UCU Lady Canons stand just one victory away from crowning themselves the 2026 National Basketball League champions after surviving a fierce late charge from the JT Lady Jaguars to secure a dramatic 68-63 victory at a packed Lugogo Indoor Arena on Wednesday.
With the championship trophy now firmly within their line of sight, the Lady Canons relied on frontcourt dominance and timely fourth-quarter execution to hold off their determined rivals.
The Lady Jaguars set an aggressive tone early, drawing first blood with a long-range strike from Sarah Ageno.
However, UCU absorbed the early pressure and answered back swiftly, closing out the opening frame with a three-point lead.
The physical battle intensified in the second quarter, where the Lady Jaguars improved their defensive structure and applied heavy pressure on the ball.
Despite the defensive adjustments from the Jaguars, the Lady Canons maintained their poise to take a 33-27 advantage into the halftime break.
The intensity reached a fever pitch after the long break as the Lady Jaguars fought back to keep UCU within striking distance.
A clutch three-point jump shot from Mariam Asacha finally broke the tension, giving the Lady Canons a narrow 51-49 edge heading into the final frame.
UCU then seized complete control with seven minutes left in the game, powered by a massive three-pointer from Zoe Atek that extended their lead to a game-high 13 points.
Refusing to yield, the Lady Jaguars mounted a furious late-game rally, cutting the deficit to just five points with one minute remaining on the clock.
Despite the heart-stopping finish, the Lady Canons held their nerve down the stretch to lock in the hard-fought 68-63 triumph.
Matrina Anyango delivered a monumental performance to lead UCU, monster-classing her way to a double-double with 17 points and 21 rebounds.
She was matched by Zoe Atek’s crucial 17-point contribution, while Mariam Namukwaya added 13 points to put the Lady Canons within touching distance of national glory.
