AS expected, it was always going to be a tough ride for the national women basketball team in Madagascar. Rwanda yesterday crumbled to their third consecutive defeat at the 2009 FIBA Africa Championship for Women after losing to defending champions Mali 48-72.
The West Africans won all four quarters 16-13, 23-12, 18-09 and 15-11 points to keep the hope of defending the title alive.
For the first timers, Angelica Williams scored a game high 19 points while Honoree Ayebare added 12points.
But it is not all gloom for the team. After yesterday’s action, there were reports that Brown Tatum, one of Rwanda’s key players would play the final two games (Tunisia and Ivory Coast) after missing out on the first three.
The 31-year-old has been sidelined on Fiba orders. The basketball body has been investigating if Brown duly passes to play for Rwanda and as things stood yesterday, there was a big chance that shoe would be cleared.
After today’s rest day, Rwanda will play Tunisia tomorrow before winding up their Group B campaign against Ivory Coast on Wednesday.