BREAKING: USA BEATS D’TIGRESS IN FIRST GAME WOMEN BASKETBALL IN TOKYO OLYMPICS

Nigeria women’s Basketball Team, D’Tigress lost their opening game to the Ladies Dream team of USA at the Tokyo Olympics 81-72 for a positive start for the Americans.

The Dream Team got off pressuring the Nigerian women, but intelligently reaction from the D’Tigress continued to close up on the US Ladies which in-spite of the upper hand of the American team, Nigeria got better in the second half making 40 points to USA’s 37 in the last quarters.

Nigeria’s team was fighting and hungry to have an edge before the next match, Friday, obviously showed class of full-court press, tenacity and did guard the defense pretty fine in the early part of the game. At the end of the first quarter, Nigeria led 20-17 and had forced eight American turnovers.

The American realising the growing confidence in the Nigerian game pressured back tactically working the ball through the middle and gradually took control. In the later stages of the second quarter they led 23-0 due to Nigeria’s team lacking proper guard at the back while working for points upfront. At this junction, American were now in total control with Las Vegas top notch player A’ja Wilson securing 13 rebounds, two steals, with excellent two blocks and had 19 points for Team USA.

Other American stars that partnered with their teammates on the court and earned points were Brittney Griner with 13 points and 10 rebounds, Diana Taurasi, also played pretty fine as she was the only player in double digits with 10 points.

While the Nigeria women were gallant in their effort to cope with the bigger size of the American Ladies. The US team had better control, landing their points easier due to slightly better experience from the number of games the team might have played, these obviously showed in their individual understanding of each other’s style of play.

D’Tigress are scheduled to battle France, Friday, in a bid to keep hope alive, if the team will have a chance of advancing to the next stage of the Basketball competition at the Tokyo Games.