ZENITH LEAGUE: DEEPWATER KEEPS TITLE HOPES ALIVE

First Deepwater on Wednesday kept their title hopes in the Nigeria Basketball Federation/ Zenith Bank Women's Basketball League alive when it recorded a slim 66-62 points win over hard-fighting Dolphin in one of the last games of the second phase of the league in Asaba, Delta State.

The duo of Deepwater's forward, Ijeoma Uchendu and guard, Nkechi Akashili, produced five-star performances to stop Dolphin in the explosive encounter.

Dolphin won the first quarter 15-8 but Deepwater won the second 21-15 but the Oil and Gas Girls still trailed by a point; 30-29, going into the break.

Deepwater came on strong in the third quarter with a 20-14 points win to go into the last quarter with a 49-44 points advantage.

Dolphin spirited effort saw them win the last quarter 18-17 but it was too little too late as Deepwater ran away with a 66-62 points win to keep their title hopes alive.

Uchendu led the floor with a double double effort of 19 points, 12 rebounds and four assists; Akashili contributed 19 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals while Memuna Fuludu added 10 points.

Earlier in the day, African champions First Bank defeated AHIP of Kano by 87-36 points while Sunshine Angels of Akure overcame Plateau Rocks 74-52.

Delta Force handed down a 68-59 points defeat to Nigeria Immigration of Kano in the closing day of the second phase of the league.