Sports

FIBA World Cup: USA beat Nigeria’s D’Tigress 71-40

Published

6 years ago

September 28, 2018

Nigeria ’ s D’ Tigress have crashed out of the FIBA Women ’ s World Cup holding in Spain , after the USA team beat them 71 -40 .According to the FIBA Liveblog , D ’ Tigress started the game on a winning note as they held USA to nine points in the first quarter , the first time ever that happened to USA in World Cup/ Olympics history .

Unfortunately , Nigeria ’ s female Basketball team couldn ’ t sustain the tempo against the defending champions .

Speaking at the end of the game , the D’ Tigress ’ Head Coach , Otis Hughley Jr said , “ I love these girls . I have two biological daughters and I feel like I have 12 more daughters . I thought they fought really well in the first half . I think the difference in the game is who shot well . I thought we played exponentially above what we have. Our girls dug down until there was nothing left . I ’ ve never felt so happy after a 31 – point loss . ”
One of the Nigerian players , Evelyn Akhator said , “ I really love the team so much . It’ s my first year of playing for the national team and this is the best group ever . Our commitment and dedication is something special . I can ’ t wait to play with this group again. It ’ s huge to come here from Nigeria and finish in the top eight of the competition . ”

For her part, USA play – caller , Dawn Staley said , “ It was a hard fought game . Nigeria came out and pressured us and it bothered us probably in the first 20 minutes of the game , and then we made an adjustment in the style of play . We started making plays . Hats go off to Nigeria , but at the same time I am proud of the team for making the adjustments needed and turning it around in the first . ”

Nigeria beat Greece and Turkey to get into the quarter – finals , a feat never achieved by an African nation in Basketball .