TheCable

D’Tigress were defeated 81-72 by the US women’s basketball team in their opening group game at Tokyo Olympics.

The game, which was played at the Saitama Super Arena, saw the Nigerians fail to revenge the humiliating loss suffered to the USA in the tune-ups ahead of the competition.

The starting five of Adora Elonu, Ezinne Kalu, Victoria Macaulay, Pallas Alpanah and Promise Amukamara registered their intent early.

They picked up 10 offensive rebounds to finish the first quarter with a surprising lead of 20-17.

The Otis Hughley-led girls, however, couldn’t maintain the intensity when the second quarter resumed.

They were run ragged by a reinvigorated US team who snatched control of the match and headed into halftime with a 44-32 lead.

The third quarter began with D’Tigress fumbling with their shootings as they failed to leverage their turnovers and the Americans made them pay gravely as a 20-point margin was established to make it 70-50.

It was a case of too little too late for the Nigerians in the fourth quarter as they hurriedly halved the deficits, but a race against the winding time meant Team USA clinched the game 81-72.

D’Tigeress were led by Kalu, who netted 16 points, followed by Macaulay’s 11 points and the duo of Amukamara and Elonu with 10 points each.

The Americans, who registered their 50th consecutive Olympic victories, were led by A’ja Wilson with 19 points, followed by Taurasi Diana’s 10 points.

Nigeria will hope for better performance when they play France in the group’s second game on Friday.