Nigeria tops Senegal 65-48 for FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title

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Nigeria’s D’Tigress won the 2017 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title Sunday after beating Senegal 65-48 in Bamako, Mali. It is the third Women’s AfroBasket title for Nigeria. Dallas Wings forward and Kentucky graduate Evelyn Akhator led the champions with 13 points and seven rebounds. Texas A&M graduate Adaora Elonu was also in double figures with 12 points plus four assists while Atonye Nyingifa added 11 points plus four rebounds.

Senegal’s Astou Traoré was named the tournament MVP and a member of the All-Star Five. She scored the most points during the event (173) and averaged 21.6 points, 5.6 rebounds during the competition. She finished the final with a game-high 17 points. The other All-Star Five members were Akhator, North Carolina graduate Italee Lucas(Angola), Leia Dongue (Mozambique) and Nagnouma Coulibaly (Mali).

Both Nigeria and Senegal have qualified for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2018 in Spain. Mali beat Mozambique, 75-52 for third place.

2017 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Final Standings

1. Nigeria
2. Senegal
3. Mali
4. Mozambique
5. Cote d’Ivoire
6. Angola
7. Egypt
8. Cameroon
9. DR Congo
10. Guinea
11. Tunisia
12. Central African Republic