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Uganda shot a dismal one-for-19 from downtown, Jaane Asinde’s first-quarter connection the only successful attempt on the night.
The Uganda Gazelles’ dream of making the FIBA Women’s Afrobasket 2023 came down crashing Wednesday night following a 66-61 loss to Rwanda.
The Gazelles started strong in the first quarter but collapsed in the second and third quarter as Rwanda pounced to win the game and progress to the semi-finals.
Uganda started the game with a quick 11-2 run to force the hosts into a timeout, with the clock reading 5.58.
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11:13 - 02.08.2023
FIBA WOMEN'S AFROBASKET Top performers as Uganda Gazelles make history in Kigali
Having started on the bench in the first game of the tournament against Mali, the Claire Lamunu has since replaced Maria Najjuma in the starting lineup and is delivering the goods.
Claire Lamunu and Melissa Akullu made it hard for Rwanda to operate in the paint, and Uganda led 22-11 at the end of the first quarter.
Rwanda relied on their full-court press to force the Gazelles into committing 26 turnovers, most of which were punished.
The hosts limited Uganda to six points in the second frame and scored 16 of their own to cut the deficit to a single point (28-27).
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09:12 - 02.08.2023
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Following the triumph, like it's been the case in the past days, the crowd and the Gazelles unleashed the party vibe.
With Jane Asinde landing badly on her ankle and having to be carried off the court in the second frame, the Gazelles struggled to get going thereafter and were down 20 at some point in the third quarter.
Rwanda, backed by a partisan home crowd and in the presence of President Paul Kagame, carried a 13-point advantage into the fourth quarter and went on to win by five and send the BK Arena into a frenzy.
Jannon Otto scored a game-high 31 points and collected 13 rebounds to record a double-double, but that was not enough as the rest of the players struggled to step up.
Melissa Akullu got 16 points and was the only other Ugandan to score in double figures on the night.
Uganda shot a dismal one-for-19 from downtown, Jaane Asinde’s first-quarter connection the only successful attempt on the night.
Rwanda will go on to play in the semi-finals, while Uganda must now focus on the classification games in a fight for fifth place.
Fiba Women’s Afrobasket 2023
Quarter-final results
Cameroon 77-80 Senegal
Mali 96-40 Guinea
Rwanda 66–61 Uganda
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