Kananu on prime as Kenyas Lionesses hit Rwanda in Africa Games qualifiers

Kenya Basketball Ladies recoiled to thump Rwanda 92-80 in a tight FIBA all African Games Zone (V) qualifiers at Lugogo indoor stadium on Thursday (27).

Betty Kananu second game-high point of 30 backed the Lionesses to clutch their first victory, days after tumbling to an 86-82 overthrow in the arrows of Egypt in the opening match.

The Lionesses took a slim win in the first period, slitting the Rwandese 17-16, before closing the second period by a whisker after sustaining a thin victory of 22-21.

Lionesses found their boom in the third quarter, racing 12 points high to clip their foils 28-16, with Kenya’s Hilda Indasi and Kananu pretty imperceptible, netting points beyond the arc and slipping the rebounds.

Lean win of 27-25 in favour of the Rwandese in the fourth quarter could not salvage Kagame’s girls from jaws of the charging Lionesses, slumping to 92-80 conquest.

However, Rwandese Tierra Henderson was invisible punishing the Lionesses 38 points, which as per now stands as the best individual score in the on-going qualifiers.

Henderson, who charges for Romanian based club Universitatea Cluj Napoca, slotted three rebounds and as well made four assists and six steals.

Indasi managed to bounce back to her form after a run-down effort in the opening match, slotting numerous 3-pointers and lethal on netting re-bounds.

Indasi slotted 22 points with fellow counterpart Felmas Koranga recording 12 points.

Conversely, Kenya men basketball team punished Egypt 97-79 on Thursday (28), to slot their second win in the qualifiers after pounding hosts Uganda 71-62 in the opening match.