Zone Five Championship: Gazelles Shoot Blanks To Squander Lead In Egypt Loss

Thursday, June 27
Women
*Rwanda 80-92 Kenya
*Egypt 64-55 Uganda

Men
*Rwanda 97-43 Tanzania
*Egypt Vs Kenya (still ongoing)

Uganda’s senior Women national basketball team, the Gazelles, fired blanks in a third quarter collapse to fall to favourites Egypt on day two of the 2019 Zone five Championship.

Despite leading by 16 points at halftime, the Gazelles squandered the lead to lose 55-64 at the Indoor Arena in Lugogo.

Coach Nicholas Natuhereza’s troops went into hibernation in the third quarter to lose 26-9 as Egypt took a slim one point (50-49) lead in the last quarter.

Uganda’s frustration continued down the stretch, falling 6-14 in the last quarter to lose a nine point game, their first loss as the side had beaten Rwanda in the opener.

Egypt. FUBA

Uganda shot an ugly 24-of-94 from the field, fired 35% on the line and made 19 turnovers in a painful loss.

Zainah Lokwameri who started in the shooting guard position was 0-7, Rita Imanishimwe came off the bench to fire 1-11.

Jamila Nansikombi, despite making 16 points in the first half, added only two points in the second half to score a team high 18. Finnish based Claire Lamunu (14 points) was the other player to score double figures.

Small forward Menatalla Awad led the way for Egypt with 19 points. The captain added 10 rebounds to seal a double double. Mela Ashraf and Sora Degheidy had 11 and 10 points respectively for the Egypt side.

The Gazelles will return to the court on Saturday against Kenyan Women in what promises to be a close contest.

The four team, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Egypt, are facing off in a round robin before playing the semis depending on their positions – First vs Fourth while second play third.

The winner will book a place to AfroBasket set in Senegal later this year in August 8-17.

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