Nigeria’s D’Tigress started their Paris 2024 Olympics campaign by delivering a statement win.
The Nigerian Women stunned their Australian counterparts and world number three Australia with a 75-62 win.
The African side delivered a sensational performance, capitalizing on Australian turnovers to secure victory in front of a large crowd in Lille. Nigeria posted a spectacular 11-0 run to finish the first half, giving them a 13-point cushion heading into the locker rooms.
This proved sufficient to get them over the line. When the Opals made it a one-shot game in the last period with four minutes remaining, Amy Okonkwo settled Nigerian nerves with a huge triple to get them rolling again.
Nigeria made nine 3-pointers, more than in any of their previous nine games at the Olympics, and recorded 15 steals, tying their competition high (also 15 vs. Greece in 2004).
The performance won’t be remembered for individual heroics, but rather the collective effort of the entire Nigerian team.
However, Ezinne Kalu stood out, carrying the team to this memorable success.
Kalu (19 points, 15 rebounds, 15 assists) became the first Nigerian player to register a 15/15/15 game in the Women’s Olympic Basketball tournament. She also made four 3-pointers, the most for a Nigerian player in the competition.
Australia struggled with 26 turnovers, which handed Nigeria 26 points from those mistakes. This was particularly damaging in the first half when Australia almost handed their opponents a point per minute from turnovers.
“It feels so good. We stuck together and came together in adversity. This is what it is all about – you fight,” Nigeria forward Amy Okonkwo said.
“We turned the ball over way too much and we were not ready to step up to the physicality of the game. Turning the ball over was the crux of the game,” Opals’ forward Alanna Smith lamented.
This marks Nigeria’s second win in the Women’s Olympic Basketball tournament, after their 68-64 success against South Korea in 2004. It is their first win in nine games in the preliminary round, conceding only 62 points, fewer than in any of their previous games in the competition.
Australia has now lost their opening game of a Women’s Olympic Basketball tournament for the second consecutive edition, after winning their previous six such games. This defeat is also their first against a team from Africa in 12 games in major competitions (World Cup + Olympics).
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