Storms demolish KU Oryx: Wanyama anchors side to victory with sterling 22 points
Basketball
By
Elizabeth Mburugu
| Oct 15, 2018
Strathmore contain USIU-A Flames even as Footprints leave Western Delight hurting.
Mercy Wanyama staged a brilliant performance as Storms taught Kenyatta University students KU Oryx a lesson in basketball.
Storms thrashed Oryx 65-37 in a Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) women’s Premier League match at United States International University of Africa (USIU-A) outdoor courts at the weekend.
Wanyama, who led Equity Bank Hawks to the KBF league title on their debut in 2016 and was voted the season’s Most Valuable Player, was too hot for the students to handle as she ruled the courts at will.
She was the undisputed player of the match with an impressive 22 points while her teammate Melissa Akinyi scored 14. Purity Afande led Oryx’s scores with a dismal six points as the students succumbed to defeat.
Storms dominated the tie from the onset announcing their intended victory with a 14-9 lead at the break of the first quarter.
The Oryx tightened their defence in the second quarter even as they tried to surge forward in search for more points. However, their efforts were thwarted by the victory-hungry Storms, who snatched the second quarter 13-7 for a comfortable 27-16 lead at the breather.
The halftime pep-talk seemed to have worked wonders for Storms as they returned a rejuvenated side and in full control of the game.
They subdued KU to kill off the match in the third period as they scored 18 against the opponents’ seven.
Facing an imminent loss, the Oryx put their best foot forward in the final quarter and performed better but it was somewhat a little too late.
In another women’s Premier League match, Strathmore University Swords had no regard for their hosts USIU-A Flames forcing a narrow 36-34 victory.
Barbara Achieng and Joy Adongo top scored for Strathmore with 11 and 10 points respectively.
Jemimah Knight of USIU-A scored 13 points, but that counted for nothing as her side yielded to Swords’ pressure reducing their chances of making it to the final eight.
Western Delight had nothing to delight in after their city tour began with Footprints subjecting them to a 59-29 beating.
Daisy Ayodi tormented Delight with her on-point shots that led to her scoring superb 23 points. Faridah Naliaka starred for Delight with seven points.
Footprints took a 20-7 lead in the first quarter but Delight fought back to lead the second 12-11.
However, Footprints were home and dry in the third quarter as Delight allowing them to take it 15-4 and have a 46-23 lead.
Footprints completed the job 13-6 as Delight dropped more points to risk relegation.