Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, on Monday failed to lift their game and consequently succumbed 102-83 to their Japanese counterparts in the basketball event of the ongoing Tokyo Olympics.
D’Tigress’ loss to Japan made it three losses from three games they played in Group B of the women’s competition’s group stage, having lost earlier to the U.S and France.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Japanese team proved too hot for the D’Tigress as they won 30-22 in the first quarter, relying mostly on three-pointers.
They kept the momentum and held on to their strategy of making successful points at the three-points line and working hard on the offensive and defensive ball play.
The second quarter was played with a lot of intensity as D’Tigress worked to keep their heads in the game but unfortunately fell 21-16 to Japan.
Japan also took the third quarter, outscoring D’Tigress 33-19, relying more again on the three-points shots.
By the fourth quarter, when D’Tigress seemed to have overcome their lethargy, winning 26-18, the Japanese who were playing their best game so far in the competition were home and dry.
By then, they had successfully recorded 19 three-points shots to coast home to a great win.
NAN reports that the win meant Japan progressed to the quarterfinals, having won two out of their three group games.
The Nigerian team were making a return to the Olympics since the 2004 edition in Athens, Greece.