South Sudan’s Bright Starlets edged Uganda’s Gazelles 69–68 on Thursday in a dramatic Afrobasket quarterfinal, securing a semifinal spot in their tournament debut.
The game, played in Abidjan, was tense from start to finish and came down to the wire. With under a minute left, Rose Akon calmly hit two free throws to give South Sudan the lead. Uganda had a chance to win, but Melissa Akullu missed two from the line.
Uganda looked sharp early, taking a 25–20 lead after the first quarter. But South Sudan caught fire in the second, especially from deep.
Nyamer Lual’s corner three broke a tie at 33, and the Gazelles struggled to respond, scoring just once in nearly seven minutes. Hope Akello’s foul trouble didn’t help, and South Sudan went into halftime up 46–40.
Uganda fought back in the third, led by Jane Asinde and Peruth Nyamwenge, to lead 60–59 heading into the fourth. But South Sudan stayed calm. Delicia Washington’s fast breaks and Maria Gakdeng’s strength in the paint kept them in it.
Washington finished with 17 points, while Gakdeng added a double-double. Akon, who scored 12, sealed the win from the free-throw line.
Nyamwenge (16 points) and Asinde (15 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists) led Uganda, but the team struggled in key moments. Paige Robinson and Akullu both missed late free throws that could have changed the outcome.
Asinde played nearly the whole game and gave everything, but South Sudan’s confidence held up under pressure.
For South Sudan, Delicia Washington led with 17 points and 6 assists, while Maria Gakdeng added a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds, and Rose Akon chipped in 12 points, going a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line.
Uganda saw strong performances from Peruth Nyamwenge with 16 points, Jane Asinde with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists, and Paige Robinson who contributed 10 points and 7 rebounds.
