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Ekone has made the difference for the Gazelles these qualifiers. Teams have struggled to match her pace in transition.
Rwanda’s clash with the Uganda Gazelles turned out a lot more competitive than anticipated.
What looked like a routine win for the hosts after leading 23-09 at the end of the first quarter quickly became a proper contest with Rwanda making big plays to get back in the game.
And shooting guard Brenda Ekone, who led the Gazelles’ offensive charge, admitted the 78-70 victory was not as straight forward as many might have thought before tipoff.
“The game was tough,” the JKL Lady Dolphins guard said after the game.
“We really fought hard. We led and then ended up blowing the lead,” she added.
The Gazelles led by as many as 18 points but Rwanda got back in it, using a 9-0 run to level matters in the fourth frame before leading by three to leave the partisan home crowd concerned.
“We started chasing so it was a tough game but I love the fact that the ladies got back up, got composed and we played to our best,” the National Basketball League top scorer said.
Ekone has made the difference for the Gazelles these qualifiers. Teams have struggled to match her pace in transition.
She was the difference against Egypt, attacking the rim at every opportunity to put the Egyptians in foul trouble.
Her exploits will be required even more in Sunday’s final, another clash with giants Egypt but this time with a direct ticket to AfroBasket up for grabs.
Ekone and Jannon Otto had 22 points apiece to lead the Gazelles against Rwanda. Egypt will have done their homework on the two and it will require the whole team to book the Gazelles the lone ticket to Kigali, Rwanda.
“I am proud of the fans and we hope they keep pushing us.”
The home crowd has been a big factor in the Gazelles’ 3-1 record at the tournament. And more of that noise might make a difference against a very experienced Egypt side on Sunday.
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