The White Jaguars secured a decisive 74-44 victory against the UPDF Lady T’hawks last night. White Jaguar guard Mary Priscilla led the team with 18 points, while Brenda Kayaga followed closely with an impressive 17 points. Four players recorded double-digit rebounds: Annet Among with 13, Sarah Ageno and Mercy Batamuliza each with 16, and Ruth Letaru with 10. In total, the White Jaguars grabbed 74 rebounds, setting a new record in the NBL for the highest number of rebounds in a game.

The team established an early lead, ending the first quarter with a 22-10 advantage, largely thanks to Brenda Kayaga’s four successful three-point shots, giving her 12 points in the first period alone. The Lady T’hawks intensified their defense in the second quarter and matched the team’s 11 points by halftime. Despite this effort, the White Jaguars maintained a 12-point lead at halftime.

In a strategic move, the UPDF Lady T’hawks attempted to shut down Kayaga by marking her closely, a tactic that ultimately backfired in the form of Mary Priscilla. “We have now matured our play, we excel in scoring from all ranges – whether it’s inside the paint, beyond the arc, or at the free-throw line. Our versatility ensures we’re never predictable, always ready to adapt and transition smoothly between different scoring methods and that’s why we were already prepared for whatever our opponents came up with” said coach Cuthbert. Mary Priscilla stepped up, coming off the bench to add 18 points to the tally. The White Jaguars then scored 41 points in the second half, securing their win.

From a statistical and analytical perspective, the White Jaguars dominated the Lady T’hawks in every aspect. They scored 74 points, grabbed 74 rebounds, dished out 21 assists, and made 12 steals. They outscored the Lady T’hawks 34-16 in points in the paint and capitalized on second-chance opportunities with 18 points compared to the Lady T’hawks’ zero.

Despite committing more turnovers, the white Jaguars compensated with strong defensive play. The game also marked the debut of new signing Aisha Ngenzahayo, who had a solid start with 6 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals in 14 minutes of play. Assistant coach Cuthbert emphasized the need to reduce turnovers to enhance their playoff performance.

Up next the team will look to take on the Magic stomers on Saturday at the Lugogo Arena. Stay tuned