Melissa Akinyi led the Kenyan scorers, managing 10 points but it was Natalie Mwangale who was Kenya's top performer, registering 8 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals for George Mayienga's charges.
Victoria Reynolds poured in 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals while Christine Akinyi added 14 points and five rebounds with Mercy Wanyama grabbing ten rebounds, two blocks and eight points.
Trailing 33-39 at half tme, Kenya's Lionesses fell to a 50-74 loss to hosts Cameroon in their FIBA Women's AfroBasket opener in Yaounde on Saturday 18 September 2021.
Called "Built Within," the initiative will build and refurbish over 10 new courts across Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso over the next three months. The remaining locations, which will be "strategically located in underserved communities," will be revealed in the coming years.
Power forward Felmas Koranga is the notable absentee as she was unable to secure a release from Troy University in the USA. Ivy Opiyo slots into the squad in place of Koranga while Selina Okumu replaces her sister Celia Okumu.
To do so, the likes of Natalie Akinyi, Victoria Reynolds, Mercy Wanyama and co will have to get out of a pool that includes Cameroon and Cape Verde.
"Everybody was hyped up, everybody was ready but they came out and gave the first punch. Give them credit; they did their job. As our coach said, this was the difference of the game," Kenya's Tom Bush Wamukota admitted in the post-game press conference.
With quarterfinal qualification at stake, expect this clash to be as explosive as they get, expect both sides to throw everything, including the kitchen sink, when they face off.
Overall, it was a dominant display from the Morans who now stand a chance of reaching the last eight in Kigali.
