Uganda, Morocco win to set fifth-place clash

 

MONASTIR (Tunisia) - Classification matches at the ongoing FIBA U16 Women's African Women’s Championship in Monastir, Tunisia have given fans some mouthwatering clashes. 

On Thursday, Uganda who lost in the quarters to Angola and Morocco who fell to hosts Tunisia on the same stage, picked wins in their respective classification matches to better their chances of finishing higher up in the rankings. 

UGANDA EASE PAST RWANDA

Coach John Omondi will have the opportunity to guide his charges, Uganda, to a fifth-place finish when they take on Thami Senouni's Morocco on Friday, July 21. 

In their first classification match against Zone 5 rivals Rwanda, Omondi's charges played a massive third quarter to put a comfortable cushion between themselves and Moise Mutokambali's charges.

The two sides played a cagey first half that saw them tied on 12 points in the first quarter with Uganda outscoring Rwanda 15-13 in the second period for the slim advantage going into the break.

Omondi's charges exploded for 20 points in the third stanza while restricting Rwanda to just four.  

Rebecca Cyuzuzo opened the scoring in the third quarter to level the score for Rwanda before skipper Teta Nicole made a layup to take the lead, only to crumble when Uganda assumed control. The final quarter ended 18-15 in Uganda's favour. 

Angella Auma, who was on the floor for the entirety of the clash, scored a match-high 21 points, completing her double-double with 11 rebounds and five steals. 

Just like Auma, Modesta Anyango was on the floor for 40 minutes, contributing 18 points and 12 rebounds. Shiphrah Kiranda bagged her own double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds for the win. 

Rwanda's scoring was led by Lilian Ingabire who dropped 11 points and 6 rebounds in 27:50 minutes. 

MOROCCO SURVIVE GUINEA'S SECOND HALF SCARE

Mohamed Fode Kourouma-coached Guinea left it late, a move that proved costly, in their attempt to overpower Morocco for a chance to fight for fifth-place finish. 

Their second half onslaught brought them to within eight points of the North Africans as they went down 50-42. 

Senouni's charges dominated the first half going 13-5 up in the first quarter and an even better second quarter of a 17-6 dominance handing them a good lead going into the break. 

Kourouma's charges, however, returned for the second half ready to fight and ate into Morocco's 19-point lead with a 21-14 third quarter performance that brought the difference down to 12 going to the decider quarter. 

Guinea's fight for a comeback was, however, never to be as, despite winning the final quarter 10-6, they went down 50-42. 

Rwanda play Guinea in a 7-8 Classification Round match on Friday, paving way for Uganda's clash against Morocco in the 5-6 classification match.

Two Semi-Finals pitting Egypt against Angola and holders Mali against Tunisia will be played on the same day. The third-place and final matches are set for Saturday 22 July. 

FIBA