The Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA) kicked off Saturday with a statement victory for ASC Ville de Dakar, fueled by the extraordinary debut of American import Aliyah Matharu.The former Baylor Bear quickly established herself as a key player,leading her new team to a 78-71 win over APR in Dakar,Senegal,marking the start of the tournament’s inaugural season.Matharu’s arrival signals a growing influx of international talent into the burgeoning African basketball scene, promising a high level of competition as teams vie for the continental championship.
DAKAR, Senegal – Aliyah Matharu delivered a stellar performance in her Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA) debut, leading ASC Ville de Dakar to a thrilling 78-71 victory over APR on Saturday.
The former Baylor Bears standout proved unstoppable, sparking a second-half comeback for the Senegalese champions and setting the tone for what promises to be a competitive tournament.
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“I’m looking forward to the rest of the competition” – Aliyah Matharu
Matharu finished with 22 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks, and 4 steals, shooting 9-of-21 from the field in 34 minutes of action. Her impact extended beyond the stat sheet, consistently attacking the basket, creating opportunities for teammates, and disrupting APR’s offense.
A quick putback early in the second quarter ignited ASC Ville de Dakar’s rally, as they battled back from an early deficit to tie the game at 30. They then took a 45-42 lead into halftime.
Aminata Ndong added 16 points and Couna Ndao chipped in with 12 for ASC Ville de Dakar, with Ndong narrowly missing a double-double. The victory was a team effort, but Matharu’s arrival clearly provided a significant boost.
APR was led by Italee Lucas, Destiney Philoxy, and Kamba Diakite, who combined for 44 points. However, ASC Ville de Dakar dominated the bench scoring battle, 24-11.
“It was my first experience with African basketball, and even though the coach prepared me for the physicality, I felt it,” Matharu told FIBA.basketball after the game. “It was a good duel and I’m looking forward to the rest of the competition.”
She added, “Our approach was to play good defense, play together, move the ball, and find the open player while staying aggressive on defense. We wanted to make a defensive statement, which we’ve been working on, and we did that well. I probably shot too much today, but the coach gives us the green light, which is reassuring because that’s not the case everywhere. 42% [9-of-21] is high for a professional, but I’ll try to be more precise in the next games.”
FIBA
