First Bank Basketball Club came from behind to overcome GS Petroliers of Algeria 54-43 at the 2017 FIBA Africa Women’s Champions Cup in Angola.
American-born Dominique Jazzmin Wilson led the way with 14 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals, Nkechi Akashili added 12 points and 4 rebounds while Cecilia Okoye finished with 13 points and 6 rebounds in game mostly dominated by the zone 1 champions.
The Algerian side led 22-7 in the first quarter taking a 10 point lead to the break (28-18) but good defense thereafter helped the Elephant Girls reduced the deficit to 2 at the end of the third quarter (34-32). The bankers got back their rythm in the last quarter and looked unstoppable as they limited the Algerian side to just 9 points.
Ginette Mfutila Makiese made 9points and 11 rebounds but it wasn’t enough to save the day for Petroliers despite starting well. Petroliers committed 27 turn overs which the Nigerian side were able to benefit 30 points from and made 12 steals in the game.
First Bank will take on defending champions, Inter Clube of Angola on Wednesday. Both sides who are unbeaten after three games, met at the semi-finals of the 2016 FIBA Africa Women’s Champions Cup with the Angolans emerging victorious.
