Togolese side Etoile Filante off to a good start in African Champions Cup for Women 2016 Zone 3 qualifiers

LOME (FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women 2016) - The host of the FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women 2016 Zone 3 qualifiers Etoile Filante were off to a good start on Saturday beating Nigerien side STT SC 73-52 at Stade Eyadema de Lome, Togo.

Despite the apparent home-court advantage, Etoile Filante had a slow start to the game as both teams finished the opening quarter tied at 20-20. 

However, it was a matter of time as they stepped up to close the half leading 39-35.

As the game moved on, Etoile Filante made the most of the Nigerien champions' apparent fatigue to close the third quarter with a 56-45 lead and they never looked back again.

I’m proud of my girls. They did a good job but we took our opponent for granted when we started," - Gadegbeku

Even though, STT SC's Kouma Aissata Tahirou, who played for 23:33 minutes, led all scorers with 33 points, it was not enough to prevent her team's defeat.

Meanwhile, Christelle Houessou, who came off the bench, sparked the hosts with a team-high 19 points.

Komla Gadegbeku, head-coach of Etoile Filante, insisted that the first quarter tie was the result of complacency from his team, but he also admitted that fatigue proved costly to the visitors.

“I’m proud of my girls. They did a good job but we took our opponent for granted when we started," the play-caller said. "I knew we needed a win and I told my girls to finish off the game in the second half."

Etoile Filante captain Mariama Akakpo felt proud  of her teammate. She said they need to win the opening game because they are looking beyond the qualifiers. “Our focus is to punch one ticket for the final phase and nothing more. We don’t care who comes our way.”

Reacting to her team defeat, STT SC head coach Issoufou Biba remains confident in her team.

"The girls impressed me with their performance but the only problem was that they were exhausted and that affected their play.

"We came to learn and improve our basketball. And in the learning process there is no shame. The team will get better in the future, for sure,” she stated.

The other team that makes up the three-team double elimination is perennial Zone 3 champions First Bank of Nigeria, which will take on Etoile Filante of Togo on Sunday. 
   
FIBA