First Bank thrash Benin’s Energie 105-31, Dolphins also win

Former continental queens, First Bank of Lagos, yesterday opened their campaign in the on-going African Women Basketball Champions Cup Zone Three qualifiers with an emphatic 105 to 31 points defeat of Energie of Benin Republic.

The Elephant Girls were ruthless in all four quarters with Nigeria senior national team African Games silver medalist and Afrobasket bronze medallist, Nkechi Akashili, posting a championship high 38 points.

First Bank, tutored by Coach Peter Ahmedu, won the four quarters with scary figures while restricting the Cotonou-based Energie to a single digit in all the quarters.

The opening quarter was a tough affair, as the Nigerian side led by 9-4 points in the first five minutes before pulling away to win the quarter by 17-04 points.

They won the remaining three quarters by 29-09, 33-09 and 26-09 points respectively for a final score-line of 105-31 points.

The team’s Senegalese import, Aya Traore, had 18 points and two assist, while forward, Nkem Akaraiwe, contributed a double figure of 17 points, 11 rebounds and three steals.