Strathmore Swords raid Stanbic Aces

Strathmore University Swords bounced back from disappointing outings to beat Stanbic Aces 56-43 in a Kenya Basketball Federation women’s Premier League match to register their sixth win.

The victory saw the students move to third place with 15 points from nine matches.

Swords, who had a good start to the season, have lost three encounters. Joy Mupalia and Magaret Nerea starred for Swords with 13 points, with Jacqueline Atiende adding 11.

Rachael Atieno top scored for the bankers with 12 points.

Despite the loss, Stanbic Aces, who had beaten Eldonets 69-57, are second on the standings with 16 points.

They have played 10 matches, won six and lost four. Former champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) top the table with 19 points from 10 matches. They have won nine and lost one to holder Equity Bank Hawks.

Unbeaten Zetech University Sparks are fourth with 14 points from seven outings. Former titleholders United States International University of Africa (USIU-A) Flames are fifth with 13 points from six wins and one loss.

The students, who are the only varsity side to have won the league title, lost to KPA. They are looking to reclaim the title they last won in 2015.

Defending champions Equity Hawks also had a fruitful weekend out thrashing Eldonets 82-37 to chalk their fifth victory.

Lavine Owiti was in superb form sinking 26 points for the bankers whereas Slyvipah Masese led Eldonets who had a disappointing trip to Nyayo with 12 points.

Equity are sixth tied on 12 points with seventh-placed Eldonets. Safe Spaces, who have placed nine matches, won two and lost seven complete the top eight with 11 points.

University of Nairobi (UoN) Dynamites are ninth with nine points from seven matches.

Dynamites will be looking to make the best out of their remaining four first leg matches in order to move into the top eight and enhance their chances of securing a play-offs slot ahead of the second leg.

Th3 Swish are 10th with eight points, while winless Africa Nazarene University (ANU) Panthers and Storms are bottom tied on 12 points. The encounter between Th3 Swish and Panthers was postponed.

In the men’s title chase, Nairobi City Thunder maintained their top spot and unbeaten run. They top the table with 20 points, two more than KPA who they play in their last first leg encounter.

Sunday matches pitting Strathmore Blades and USIU-A Tigers and National Bank of Kenya (NBK) Phoenix and Equity Bank Dumas were cancelled at the last minute.