The Nigeria’s senior women basketball team, D’Tigress suffered an 81-72 opening match defeat to USA early hours on Tuesday Morning, Owosports.com.ng reports.
D’Tigress had a good start in the first quarter. They went up 6 points at some point after Promise Amukamara’s driving layup, but the US got back in it and lead by 2.
Nigeria 15 -16 USA.
D’Tigress at some time leads the US by 3 points. Ify Ibekwe with two 3 points, the last one came at the buzzer for the first quarter.
Nigeria 20-17 USA.
The US gradually gets in their rhythm. They opened their biggest lead in the game. Breanna Stewart knocked in a 3 to take USA 14 up on Nigeria.
Nigeria 25-39 USA.
Down by 18 points at some point in the second quarter, Adaora Elonu at the buzzer sunk in a 3 from deep to cut down the deficit by 12 points.
Half Time: Nigeria 32- 44 USA.
It was all too easy for the US as they went 20 points up on Nigeria. D’tigress struggled to contain the much bigger players of the US team like Brittney Griner.
Nigeria 42 – 62 USA.
Adaora Elonu with 3 points shot, knocked down a 3, then made two Free Throws as the gap went down to 8 points, but the US went back 12.
Nigeria 67 – 79 USA.
The last time D’Tigress played against the US, they lost by 31 points in Las Vegas. During today’s latest encounter, they threatened the Americans and looked like they could challenge them.
Nigeria 72 -81 USA.
Nigeria will next take on France on July 30, 2021.
