BASKETBALL – BAHRAIN’S Al Hala were handed their third successive defeat last night in the 26th Arab Women’s Clubs Championship, currently being played in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
The kingdom’s representatives went down fighting against Saudi hosts Al Ula 92-100.
Hala trailed by double digits in the game but roared back valiantly in the fourth quarter and got to within three, 89-92, following a Shirin Madwar basket with three minutes to play. But they were unlucky and got no closer as Al Ula closed the contest strong, pulling away for the eight-point win.
Hala’s Senegalese import Yacine Diop had 33 points to lead their team and also grabbed 12 rebounds but fouled out for the second straight affair. Star Bahraini guard Bayan Salman added 23 points, which included four three-pointers, while dishing out six assists, and American professional Alexa Nicole Hart had 20 and nine boards in the losing effort.
Al Ula’s Chennedy Carter and Queen Egbo, both from the US, combined for 64 points, with Carter pouring in 34 as their top scorer.
Hala’s setback last night put a huge dent in their title ambitions. It followed their 74-76 loss against Association du Groupement Sportif Cosider from Algeria on Wednesday and their heart-breaking 87-88 defeat to Sharjah from the UAE on Thursday.
Hala are the lone Bahraini side taking part in the competition. Others in the fray are Al Qurain and Al Fatat SC from Kuwait and Fuheis SC from Jordan.
Following a rest day today for all the teams, Hala resume their campaign tomorrow against Al Fatat at 5pm. They then take on Fuheis on Monday, also at 5pm, before having back-to-back off-days on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Hala play their final preliminary round assignment on Thursday against Al Qurain, scheduled for a 3pm tip-off. All times are Bahrain.
Based on the results from the championship’s first stage, the top two clubs on the standings will battle for the gold medals on the tournament’s final day on Friday next week. The third and fourth-ranked sides will lock horns for the bronze medals.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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