Equity Hawks bounce back to edge ASPAC from Benin
Basketball
By
Washington Onyango
| Dec 12, 2023
Equity Hawks’ Betty Kananu (right) in action against Noussirath Ali of ASPAC. [FIBA]
A fourth quarter 27-8 blowout for Kenyan side Equity Bank Hawks saw them pick their first Africa Women's Basketball League (AWBL) win, defeating Benin's ASPAC 87-69.
The bankers got off to a poor start on Monday when they lost to Angola’s Inter Clube 80-55 during their opening Group B match.
On Tuesday though, the former KBF Women’s Premier League champions came from behind, having trailed 39-35 at halftime, to outscore ASPAC 25-22 and 27-8 in the final two stanzas to help themselves get back to winning ways.
Hawks center Grace Malu was the star of the show as she finally found her footing in the final period, scoring 13 to take her final tally to 25 with 17 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 assists and 2 steals.
Skipper Melissa Otieno who endured a slow start as well scoring 8 in the opening half, added 10 in the third quarter and three in the final period to complete the comeback win with 21 and 5 assists.
Betty Kananu and Maryann Nyagaki also managed double digits with 16 and 11 points respectively, the former completing her double-double with 12 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal.
Hawks coach Benson Oluoch said in his post-match interview: "We pushed the ball more and our shots were falling in the final period which wasn't the case in the opening three quarters so we will look to build on this momentum going forward.