First Bank Basketball Club finished third with a 93-69 points win over V-Club of Democratic Republic of Congo at the FIBA Africa Champions Cup Women in Maputo on Sunday.
This is the third time in a row the Elephant Girls are returning with a bronze medal on the Continent.
Jasmine Nwajei led five other Elephant Girls on double figures. Nwajei scored a game high 23 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals. She made 11 of 18 from the floor and 1/3 from the line.
Cecilia Okoye recorded her first double-double of the competition with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Nkechi Akashili had 15 points, Nkem Akaraiwe and Ginette Mfutila each scored (11) points while Malaika Green added 10 points.
First Bank had a better free throw conversion rate scoring 66.70 percent over V-Club’s 28.60 percent. They also had a less number of turnovers committed as compared to their opponents (12-22). The Nigerians however gained 24 points from the turnovers committed by the Congolese.
First Bank picked up from their loss in the semi final with a 21-14 points scored in the first quarter and further limited their opponents on the offensive board in the second quarter (27-9) taking an 11 points lead to the break (41-30).
V-Club gained momentum in the third with 22-23 points scored but a poor final quarter handed the Zone 3 representatives their third successive bronze medal.
Alliance Ndiba was the top performer for V-Club with a double-double, 12 points and 12 rebounds. Ndiba added 3 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks to go with it.
Ortice Haongl had 17 points, Marlene Matokio 16 points while Gracia Nguz had 13 points and 6 rebounds.
