Burundi through to 2023 FIBA U16 Women’s African Championship
Coach Belyse Gateka's charges, Burundi, are through to the 2023 FIBA U16 Women's African Championship Final Round after edging Rwanda 61-41 in their second match at the ongoing FIBA Africa Zone 5 Qualifier
KIGALI (Rwanda) - Coach Belyse Gateka's charges, Burundi, are through to the 2023 FIBA U16 Women's African Championship Final Round after edging Rwanda 61-41 in their second match at the ongoing FIBA Africa Zone 5 Qualifiers.
The side came into the clash on the back of a hard-fought over-time 62-52 victory against Tanzania in the opening match played on Wednesday, 28 June.
Burundi had a slow start in the match, going two points behind in the opening five minutes of first quarter as the highly-charged home side went ahead 11-9.
It was, however, a Burundi show from then on as they scored 11 in the remaining minutes of the period while restricting the Jacques Bahige-led Rwanda to a paltry three for a 20-14 lead at the conclusion of the first ten minutes.
The opening five minutes of the second quarter were evenly contested but it was still Burundi who led with six against Rwanda's four and that was all the hosts managed in the entire quarter. Burundi led 34-18 at half time.
Coach Belyse Gateka
On resumption, Rwanda had no response for the free-scoring Burundi as they trailed 15-8 in the third quarter to head to the final period with a 29-point deficit at 49-26.
Gateka's charges played an easy final quarter, as their cushion was under no threat, allowing Rwanda to win the quarter 15-12 but it was too little too late for the hosts as they lost by 20 a massive 20 points.
Delisca Dusengimana bagged a double-double to lead Burundi's onslaught as Keita Ajeneza top scored for the side in the match with 15.
Skipper Rachelle Itangineza came to within a point of bagging her own double on points.
Emlyne Iragena who was on the floor for just over 23 minutes was the top scorer for the Rwandese side with 11 as Angelique Tuyishime managed 10 in the loss.
Burundi were expectedly the better side on all fronts scoring 23 points off the bench against Rwanda's 5, 29 on fast break against 14, 36 on the paint against 24 and 33 off of turnovers against 19. Both sides made 6 on second chances.
The side joins Uganda U16 Women who had already booked their ticket to the Final Round of the FIBA Africa Women’s Championship set for Tunisia from 13 to 23 July.
FIBA