Africa Champions D’Tigress started their title defence with a blow out win over Tunisia on Saturday at the newly constructed Dakar Arena in Senegal.
Evelyn Akhator led Nigeria to a 75-26 win over the north Africans in a one sided game that proved they were no match for the African Champions. Akhator scored a game high 13 points to finish with 10 rebound double-double while adding 3 steals, 1 block and 2 assists in the game, shooing ar 83.33% of her field goals and made 3/4 from the free throw line in 15 minutes.
Atonye Nyingifa added 12 points and 4 rebounds the second player on double figures for Nigeria, while Jasmine Nwajei (7), Sarah Ogoke (6) and Sarah Imovbioh (6) were effective from the boards.
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With 6:25 minutes remaining in the second quarter, Nigeria had taken a 20 points lead over Tunisia (38-8) and further made it a 30 points lead heading to the break (40-10).
Tunisia could only score 4 points in the entire second quarter and the damage was however worsened in the second half as the North African side were left in sorry state.
No Tunisian player made a double digit point in the entire game.
Despite the resounding victory, D’Tigress gave away 21 turn overs and made three of 18 from the deep.
Nigeria will next face Cameroon in their second game on Tuesday for a place in the Quarter Finals of the FIBA Women’s Afrobasket 2019.
