Tuesday, December 12

REG 92-89 Inter Clube

Tiffany Mitchell and Destiny Promise Philoxy contributed a combined 56 points as Rwanda Energy Group (REG) defeated Angolan giants Inter Clube 96-89 in an edge-of-the-seat day two encounter of the ongoing FIBA Africa Women Basketball League (AWBL).

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It was REG’s second win in as many games of Group B.

WNBA import Mitchell scored a game-high 34 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists while Philoxy expertly ran the floor with 22 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals to help the Rwandan side take the win for a 2-0 record, having won their opening match 86-45 against Overdose Up Station.

REG led 13-9 in the opening five minutes and further at 17-9 before the Angolan side mounted a comeback that saw Mucauro knock down a trey with 2.10 minutes to play to tie the game at 19.

Mitchell responded with a three of her own to make it 22-19 but the quarter, which witnessed 3 lead changes and 4 ties, was not done yet.

Eduarda Gabriel had a big play in the last 6 seconds, with a basket 1 to tie the score at 27 at the end of the entertaining quarter that had Mucauro finish with 12 points while Mitchell was good for 11 and 3 rebounds.

The dogfight continued with REG building a five-point cushion in the opening three minutes of the quarter at 36-31 and further at 50-44 with Nia Clouden, one of the two WNBA stars for REG dropping back-to-back threes in the rally.

ALSO READ: 2023 AWBL: REG Women face Overdose in opener

Inter Clube found themselves not only trailing by 14 at halftime in a 60-46 outcome, but they were also in foul trouble with two of their best players Mucauro and Italee Lucas carrying three fouls each to the second half.

So cagey was the former MVP, Mucauro, after picking two fouls in the first quarter and one more in the second that she only managed one basket in the second stanza as Lucas added 5, the duo remaining the beat scorers for coach Elisa Pires in the first half regardless.

REG coach Esperance Mukaneza, who had four unused bench players in the first half, also had two of her players Betty Kalanga and Nadine Rutagengwa carrying 3 fouls after the half, but her key players Clouden, Mitchell and Philoxy had managed to stay out of trouble, the latter keeping a clean slate while the other two had one foul each.

"They pressured us a lot at the beginning as we were trying to figure out how the game was going to be and what weaknesses we could exploit. We knew they were bigger than us on the post so we had to switch up our defense and keep them on their toes. After settling down we were able to gain the advantage," offered Mitchell who was the only player on the floor for the 40 minutes of action.

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Inter Clube managed to cut the deficit to just 8 at the conclusion of the third quarter with a 20-14 performance but the scoreline wasn&039;t the most worrying part for coach Mukaneza but her star player Clouden picking three more fouls in just 10 minutes to head to the last period with 4.

Rosine Micomyiza started the final quarter in place of the 23-year-old Clouden and her impact was instant as she knocked down a three to restore her side's double-digit advantage with Philoxy adding one more seconds later to take the scoreline to 80-66.

Inter Clube clawed back for 84-75 forcing REG into a timeout but the Angolan resolve was strong as they went on a 6-0 run off two treys from Lucas to come within three points at 86-83.

"We had a lot of turnovers and took a lot of bad shots under pressure and that allowed them to gain some momentum. Once we started swinging the ball again and making them move in the zone, we were able to take open shots and remain in the lead," Mitchell explained.

Philoxy then unleashed her magic in a three-point play that also took Lucas off as the latter fouled the Rwandese International on her way up for her fifth violation.

Mucauro kept the game close with a true 93-89 with 35 seconds on the clock but there was little the Angolan side could do to stop Mukaneza's side from bathing their second win of the championship.

REG women return to action on Wednesday, December 13, where they will take on Kenyan Equity Bank.