Nigeria’s female basketball national team, D’Tigress entered global record books on Saturday, when they surpassed 100 points in their victory over Philippines at the FIBA qualification competition in Lyon, France.
READ ALSO: Samuel Ogazi’s 44.57 African Indoor 400m Record Sets Tongues Wagging
Sports247 reports that Rena Wakama’s squad recovered from defeat to Korea in their second game of the competition, as the seven-time African champs pulled off a huge second-half comeback to defeat the Philippines 101-84.
It was a second victory in three games at the competition, which D’Tigress are only using as a build-up point and preparation test ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, for which they already qualified as reigning African champions.
Saturday’s result also meant that the Nigerian lasses surpassed the 100-point mark for the first time in seven years, thereby soothing taut nerves that emerged on Thursday, after they suffered a 77-60 loss to Korea.
D’Tigress atoned for that in grand style against the Philippines, despite shaky form in the opening half, as the Nigerians stormed back in the final period to outscore their opponents 25-12 and close out the game in a dominant style.
It became a new FIBA qualifying record for D’Tigress, as it bettered their previous global mark of 76 points and the first time they scored above 100 overall in an international game since their 2019 Women’s Afrobasket clash with Cameroon.
D’Tigress also dominated the rebounding battle 58-33, including 18 offensive boards, and recorded 36 assists against the Philippines’ 24; while Murjanatu Musa, with 10 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, ended as most valuable player (MVP).
Victoria Macaulay topped Nigeria’s scoring for the third consecutive game with 16 points, while Nicole Enabosi got 15 points and 12 rebounds, Elizabeth Balogun put in 14 points, as Ezinne Kalu contributed 13 points and seven assists.
