Nigeria reminded everyone that they aren’t ready to go home without a fight and that mindset paid off as they rallied to beat Korea 70-69 in the closest game so far at the 2016 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT).
After trailing for most of the contest, Ezinne Kalu hit a three-pointer with 4.6 seconds left to play to rescue Nigeria from a potential elimination.
Kalu converted a three-point play with 2:51 remaining but that was just the beginning of a stretch that saw four lead-changes until the final buzzer sounded.
Korea paid the price for getting little production from their bench; players who contributed only 11 points against Nigeria’s 37.
By scoring 11 points off the bench for Nigeria, Kalu not only turned out to be a game-changer but also her team’s new heroine.
How does a team that makes a tournament-high 14 three-pointers lose a game?
That is a mystery which Korea head coach We Sungwo will have to figure out. But credit must be given to the Nigerian coaching staff who called a timeout when trailing 69-67 with 12 seconds to go.
In the ensuing possession, Kalu executed the game-winning play that edges Nigeria closer to the Quarter-Finals.
Culled from www.hotsports.tv
After trailing for most of the contest, Ezinne Kalu hit a three-pointer with 4.6 seconds left to play to rescue Nigeria from a potential elimination.
Kalu converted a three-point play with 2:51 remaining but that was just the beginning of a stretch that saw four lead-changes until the final buzzer sounded.
Korea paid the price for getting little production from their bench; players who contributed only 11 points against Nigeria’s 37.
By scoring 11 points off the bench for Nigeria, Kalu not only turned out to be a game-changer but also her team’s new heroine.
How does a team that makes a tournament-high 14 three-pointers lose a game?
That is a mystery which Korea head coach We Sungwo will have to figure out. But credit must be given to the Nigerian coaching staff who called a timeout when trailing 69-67 with 12 seconds to go.
In the ensuing possession, Kalu executed the game-winning play that edges Nigeria closer to the Quarter-Finals.
Culled from www.hotsports.tv
