#Tokyo2020: D'Tigress Of Nigeria Lose To USA In Basketball

The Nigerian female basketball team, D'Tigress, were impressive in their opening Group B game against the United States of America women's basketball team on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. The Nigerian team started the game with so much firepower, giving the best women's basketball team in the world a run for their money.

Pallas and Ify Ibekwe

At the end of the first quarter, D'Tigress led the United States 20-17, going into the second quarter with a 3 point lead. Ify Ibekwe was the star of the first quarter leading the Nigeria team with 7 points.

It was a better performance in the second quarter by the United States team, who showed the Nigerian team why they are best ranked in the world, getting 27 points while the D'Tigress could only get 12 points. The USA team went into the third quarter with a 12 points lead over D'Tigress. The highlight of the second quarter was the 3 pointer Buzzer beater by Adaora Elonu.

D'Tigress started the last quarter with a more spirited performance, as they were not ready to go down without a fight. The Nigerians recovered well from a 20 point margin to lose narrowly against the world's number one by just 9 points. The game ended 81-72 in favour of the Americans.

A'ja Wilson emerged as the game's highest scorer with 19 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 2 blocks, followed closely by Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal.