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The Gazelles next face Egypt on Wednesday in a must win game
The Uganda Gazelles started their FIBA Women’s Zone V Afrobasket Qualifiers campaign with a 53-61 loss against Kenya at the Lugogo Indoor Stadium Tuesday evening.
Mercy Wanyama led Kenya's top performers with 15 points and three rebounds while Christine Akinyi added 14 points. Madina Okot added eight points and thirteen rebounds as the defending champions dominated the hosts.
The Gazelles were led by Jannon Jaye Otto who posted eleven points and six rounds. She was closely followed by Hope Akello who managed ten points and six rebounds.
The Lionesses started well winning the first quarter 16-7 with Okot causing havoc for Uganda in the paint.
It took the Gazelles up until six minutes to end the second quarter to step up; with the score at 15-21, Ritah Immanishimwe's jump shot reduced the seven-point deficit to five.
Before, Brenda Ekone reduced it further to four on the charity line after she was fouled.
However, Kenya kept the pressure on and had a ten point lead by half time, (25-35).
The third quarter still got the Gazelles on the back foot although they tried to bounce back towards the end.
With the score at 32-39, Imanishimwe's three pointer reduced the seven-point deficit to four before Brenda Ekone picked up a rebound just right after to make it 37-39.
With two minutes on the clock to end the quarter, Imanishimwe again stepped up and leveled the score at 39-39, also converted once on the charity line after she picked up a foul giving Uganda the lead for the first time in the game at 40-39.
However, the Lionesses dominated the final quarter and Uganda's troubles were further compounded with a knee injury to Jannon Jaye Otto who had to be replaced with a minute left on the clock.
The Gazelles next face Egypt on Wednesday in a must-win game.
Tuesday results
South Sudan 68-83 Egypt
Uganda 53-61 Kenya
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