Hawk-eyed bankers outsmart Swords

Equity Bank’s ‘Hawk’ ladies team after winning the league. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) women Premier League champions Equity Bank Hawks returned to the top of the standings following double victory at the weekend.

The bankers who are seeking to successfully defend their title returned to winning ways having suffered a 50-52 loss away to 2017 winners Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) to bag four points at Nyayo. Hawks also ended Strathmore University Swords' unbeaten run following a 54-46 win. Until Sunday, the students had maintained a 100 per cent record with nine victories.

Strathmore's Emmaculate Awuor scored a match-high 17 but her effort was not good enough to help her side evade defeat. Betty Kananu top-scored for Equity with 14 points with Rita Anyango adding 13 while Neema Achieng and Belinda Akoth scored 11 each for Strathmore and Equity respectively. 

Swords engaged the bankers in a fierce battle in the first quarter to take a narrow 13-12 lead. Not ready to let the students have their way, Hawks came back stronger in the second period to score 14 points against Swords 10 and take a 26-23 advantage at the breather. 

The bankers dominated the second half scoring 28 points five more than the students and register their ninth win. Equity had beaten University of Nairobi Dynamites 57-35 in their first weekend encounter. 

In the men's Premier League, Equity Bank's new acquisition Feisal Adan anchored the bankers to double win against United States International University of Africa (USIU-A) and World hope. Adan who was signed from Oikers of Tanzania this season sunk 21 and 22 points in their 68-36 and 72-66 wins over World Hope and USIU-A Tigers respectively.

Selected results
Delight 10 KPA 52

Strathmore 46 Equity Bank 54
World Hope 36 Equity Bank 68
Nebulas 48 Coastal Kings 56

JKUAT 20 Eldonets 27
Footprints 16 Kisii University 53