USIU lose opening tie at Africa clubs meet

United States International University (USIU) lost their opening game 41-51 against Clube De Desportos D’A’ Politecnica of Mozambique at the ongoing Fiba Africa Women Clubs Basketball Championship in Maputo, Mozambique.

At the same time, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), who had lost their opening match 43-57 to Fap Basketball of Cameroon on Friday evening, went down 58-84 to hosts Ferroviaro Maputo in their second game.

USIU could not contain the heat generated by D’A’Politecnica just from the opening quarter which they lost 9-18. The students rose in the second quarter to narrow the gap even though they went down 10-13.

Head coach George Mayienga capitalised on half-time break to try and steady his ship and it paid off as they won the third quarter 13-8 on resumption, but USIU’s good run did not last for long as the opponents realised their loopholes and capitalised on them to bag the last quarter 9-12.

“We were not settled in the match. Our plans did not work out. We will look for another strategy as we approach our second game against hosts Clube Desportivo De Agosto,” Mayienga said.

D’A’Politecnica had lost their opening game 59-65 to First Bank of Nigeria.

Hosts Ferroviario of Mozambique managed to redeem themselves with the KPA win after losing 43-57 to Inter Clube of Angola three days ago.