Monday, August 19

Rwanda 80-62 Lebanon

The women's national basketball team got off to a strong start at the pre-qualifiers of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup by beating Lebanon 80-62 on Monday, August 19.

Rwanda’s victory was spear-headed by the top performance of players including Bella Murekatete, a US-based center who starred with a game-high 24 points and seven rebounds.

Former WNBA player Keisha Hampton who was recently added to Rwanda’s roster had a good game as well, scoring 21 points, while guard Sifa Ineza added 9.

Cheikh Sarr’s team won all the four quarters of the game as it registered its first-ever triumph against a non-African team in style.

Rwanda closed the day on top of Group D where it was placed alongside Great Britain, Argentina, and Lebanon.

Speaking in an interview after the game, Murekatete lauded the thousands of fans that flocked the BK Arena to support Rwanda, saying they played a huge part in the win. She promised more good basketball, noting that if the team executes it's game plan, it is "really tough to beat."

After the Lebanon game, the women’s national basketball team will be back on the court on August 21 against Argentina and later face Great Britain on August 22.