National Basketball League | Women | Wednesday
- UCU Lady Canons 71-67 JKL Lady Dolphins
The UCU Lady Canons narrowly beat JKL Lady Dolphins 71-67 in a tense National Basketball League clash at Lugogo Indoor Arena on Wednesday night.
The game was tight from tip-off to final buzzer, with UCU fending off a determined JKL side missing several key players, including Evelyn Nakiyingi, Becky Longom, Ritah Imanishimwe, and veteran Flavia Oketcho.
Hajara Najjuko’s buzzer-beater gave UCU a slim 20-19 lead at the end of the first quarter. The back-and-forth continued into the second, capped by a long-range three from JKL’s Zainah Angella Lokwameri to trim the halftime gap to 41-38.
UCU pulled away in the third quarter, thanks to two big three-pointers from Milicent Otieno, entering the final period ahead 62-56. JKL mounted a late surge led by Hope Akello, but UCU held firm.
Sylvia Nantongo anchored the Canons with a commanding double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds, dominating both ends of the court.
Akello was outstanding for JKL, pouring in a game-high 31 points, with Tamasha Nsubuga adding 13, but it wasn’t enough.
In other action, the UPDF Lady Tomahawks beat Magic Stormers 49-37, while Nabisunsa edged Angels 60-57 in a thriller.
The win boosts UCU’s playoff hopes as they remain in 4th place, tied with JKL Ldy Dolphins on 10 wins, while JKL will have to rest and face second-placed JT Lady Jaguars on Friday, 20th June, in Lugogo.
