D’Tigress, Nigeria’s women basketball team excelled at the 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup reaching the quarterfinal in only their second appearance.
D’Tigress defeated Turkey, Argentina and Greece to become the first African team to qualify for the quarterfinals.
D’Tigress was defeated at the quarterfinal by the United States of America (USA) with a final score of 71-40.
After winning the first quarter, D’Tigress succumbed to a resurgent USA in the quarter-final of the FIBA Women’s World Cup in Tenerife, Spain.
Ezinne Kalu led D’Tigress with eight points, four rebounds and two assists. Centre-back Amina Mohammed returned to the team after she missed the quarterfinal qualifying game against Greece due to injury.
Eveyln Akhator set the ball rolling when she won a defensive rebound, then sunk a jump shot to open the scoring. The first quarter ended 9-17 with D’Tigress firmly in control of proceedings but Otis Hughley’s side could not build on the positive start as USA limited Nigeria to just six points in the second quarter to the Americans 18.
D’Tigress held onto the lead till Breanna Stewart sunk a trey with 2:04 on the clock. Aj’a Wilson extended the lead by one point from the free throw line. Wilson scored another two points from a layup to close out the scoring for the quarter and ensure the Americans never looked back.
In the third quarter, D’Tigress tried to prove stiffer opponents against USA but still fell short with an 11 point difference at the end of the quarter. The fourth quarter seemed a cakewalk for the highest ranked women’s basketball team, as they cantered to a 25-5 win in the quarter.
USA faces the winner in the quarterfinal between Belgium and France.
