CAIRO (Egypt) - Rwanda Energy Group (REG) are back to winning ways, subjecting Cote d'Ivoire's Friend's Basketball Association (FBA) to their third loss of the 2025 Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA). The Pape Malick-coached side came into the clash off a difficult 88-60 loss to reigning silver medalists and hosts Al Ahly Sporting Club but overcame yet another slow start, as was the case in their opening 67-64 win against Sporting Clube de Luanda, to dominate for 81-53.
The experience from the AfroBasket is giving us a leg up - Promise Amukamara
Kayana Traylor and Kristina King, REG's knight in shining armour, lived up to expectations, marshalling the Rwandese champions on offense and defense respectively to lead the side to a 2-1 show in Group A. American guard, Traylor was unstoppable,dropping a spectacular 7-for-12 from deep adding four on the paint while converting all her five free throws to finish with more than a third of her sides points, the highest tally in the 2025 competition so far, at 34.
She added 3 steals and as many assists and grabbed two rebounds. Sharing the responsibility equally, Kristina King had only six rebounds in the team's 67–64 win against Sporting Clube de Luanda and four in their loss to the hosts.
She went on to score 19 points against the Ivorians, completing the team's only double-double with 17 points from 8 out of 14 shots, with one unsuccessful attempt from behind the arc. She finished with an efficiency rating of 32. In the first quarter, the Rwandans took on FBA, who beat them to fifth place last year, and won 15-13.
However, they switched up their defence in the second quarter, winning it 24-12 and establishing a 14-point lead. This kept them safe when FBA rallied in the third quarter, winning it 21-17.
The final quarter was dominated by REG, who scored four three-pointers in a 25-7 performance to secure victory. REG guard Promise Amukamara reflected on the team"s win: "We did a great job taking care of the ball, but Kayana did an amazing job of carrying us on her back with the three points."
The Nigerian International player and Olympian added: "We forced them into turnovers, allowing us more possession on offense for the victory. In the third quarter we might have gotten a bit complacent and didn't come out hungry and strong which is a mentality we have to change. Despite joining late, I have managed to settle in well and today's game was better for me. The experience from the AfroBasket is giving us a leg up as I know the players' tendencies and that has gone a long way."
FIBA