The REG Women BBC’s winning streak won’t extend past ten games after they were handed a convincing defeat by the APR WBBC, 90-85, on Saturday evening at Club Rafiki. Nelly Sandra Nsanzabaganwa put up a stellar offensive display, driving into the paint at will.
Saturday, August 6, 2022, Club Rafiki hosted one of the mouth-watering clashes of the Rwanda Women’s Basketball League between two Kigali giants. The former champions APR WBBC and the defending champions, REG Women BBC in an eye-catching offensive game of the season so far.
The defending champions started off the first quarter with a 10-0 run as APR didn’t have a point in like the first four minutes of the game. They ended the first period with a 24-13 lead, confidence that carried them through the second quarter, and hope to take an easy win to keep their remarkable unbeaten run.
Rwanda Energy Group team, led by coach Esperance Mukaneza won the second quarter and went into the break with a double-digit lead, 45-32.
After falling down in the first half, the 2018-2019 league champions turned things around with a huge third quarter, cutting the deficit to end the quarter score in a tie. 60 points a piece.
In this period, REG who had a chance to kill the game in the second quarter were dominated and it was obvious their fouls would cost them at the end.
Charles Mbazumutima’s APR come in last quarter with a very solid offensive approach. The opponent’s best players on the court were all one foul away from fouling out. Ines Nezerwa “Giti” (C) and Mireille Muganza (C) plus Odile Tetero (PG) each had 4 fouls with 5 minutes to spare. They drove into the paint too easily for the rest of the game since the electricians had no structural defense to stop them. Thus APR overcame REG to end their 10-game winning streak. Full-time REG Women BBC 85-90 APR BBC.
Nelly Sandra Nsanzabaganwa led the way with 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 13 assists. Laurence Imanizabayo added 24 points while Betty Kalanga come off the bench to contribute 20 points, 8 rebounds, and expertly played perimeter defense to boot.
Sandrine Mushikiwabo scored a team high19-point for REG. Three starters (Ines, Odile, and Mireille) fouled out in the game while Ange Nelly Irakoze stepped onto the court after a one-year half knee injury.
APR WBBC finished the regular season on a positive note, 11-1. In case REG beat The Hoops next week, they will equally have the same win/lost ratio with APR. With head-to-head as a tie-breaker, REG will take first place since they beat them 55-43 in the first leg.
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