Nigerian Champions, First Bank, made it back-to-back wins at the Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA) Zone 3 qualifiers, defeating Benin champions Energie BBC 70–56 on Saturday, www.aclsports.com reports.
Taking control early in Treichville, the Elephant Girls opened with a 20–14 first-quarter lead and extended their advantage to 36–22 by half-time, outscoring Energie BBC 16–8 in the second quarter. Energie BBC attempted a third-quarter fightback, winning the period 21–17, but First Bank responded strongly in the fourth, adding 17 points to secure a 14-point victory.
Tobiloba Ogedengbe led the Nigeria side with 14 points, seven rebounds and six offensive boards in 25 minutes of play. Haminatu Ayodeji contributed a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, providing crucial defensive support. Abigail Isaac also added 11 points and nine rebounds as First Bank maintained control throughout the match.
The Nigerian champions dominated the boards, grabbing 25 offensive rebounds, and excelled in the paint, scoring 36 points compared to Energie’s 18. Their bench also made a major contribution, adding 48 points to Energie’s 15. Despite some spirited efforts, the Benin champions were hindered by turnovers and missed opportunities.
The Elephant Girls will look to extend their winning streak when they face FBA in their third game of the Zone 3 qualifiers on Sunday, 23 November.
