KPA thump DR Congo's CNSS to reach FIBA Africa Cup quarters
Basketball
By
Washington Onyango
| Dec 13, 2022
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) on Tuesday sailed through to the quarterfinals of the 2022 FIBA Africa Women's Champions Cup after thrashing DR Congo's CNSS 69-59 in their final Group A match at the Pavilhao de Universidade Eduardo Mondlane in Mozambique.
Nigerian import Ifunaya Okoro scored a game-high 35 points and nine rebounds as the East African queens recovered from a slow start to see off the Congolese side.
KPA found themselves trailing 17-8 in the first quarter before bouncing back to dominate the remaining three periods 17-19, 16-24 and 9-18 for the victory that places them in third place in the group stage.
On Monday, KPA got their first win of the tournament with a blow-out victory over Group A opponents Energie BBC.
The East Africans triumphed 83-45 in a game that saw 18-year-old Madina Okot score 19 points and crash nine boards.
KPA guard Ifunaya Okoro also stepped up with 16 points, eight points and four assists, while floor general Natalie Mwangale scored 11 points, nine rebounds and six assists.
Mwangale told FIBA.basketball that the win over the club from Benin helped their confidence and would count towards their seeding in the Quarter-Finals.
Inter Clube who topped the pool followed by Costa do Sol and KPA progressed from Group A to the quarterfinals. C.N.S.S. and Energy BBC went home.
KPA had begun the games with a 76-50 defeat to Inter Cube from Angola and a 73-62 loss to hosts Costa do Sol.
KPA will now face off against Sporting from Egypt on Thursday.