After four games played in Accra Basketball League’s (ABL) Women’s Division, Navy is still winless in the league. The team’s latest loss came following a close 34-36 loss to Galaxy at the Prisons Court in Cantonments in Ghana’s capital, Accra. Before tipoff, defending champions Braves beat Air Force 48-29 in the earlier matchup of the day.
Coach Alexander Tindani had promised a win in the build up and his charges started the game with serious intentions on ending the losing run by leading 15-7 at the end of the first half. Point Guard Maria Mensah showed off her quality once again with a brilliant drive to score on a layup and assisted Victoria Vuvor to score another layup in a dominant first half.
However, the wheels came off as Galaxy’s over sized players began wrecking havoc on the boards and stifling Navy’s lone big Edem in the process. Coupled with too many turnovers, Navy failed to register a single point in the third quarter.
Galaxy capitalized on the giveaways by relying on speedy Guards Karine Quarnum and Joana Anannel for drives toward the basket which ended in Galaxy attempting and converting free throws than at any point in the game.
Quarnum stole a ball from Mensah -who showed a tendency for holding onto the ball for long periods- and scored in the opening act of the final quarter to give Galaxy a 31-21 lead. A three pointer from Anannel stretched the team’s lead to 14 before two straight makes behind the arc from Veronica Kusi made things interesting down the stretch.
Point Guard Maria Mensah and Edem were guilty of missed chances from the free throw line which would have sent the game into overtime.
The team will have to regroup and come back stronger in the next matchup to end the losing streak.
