Victoria Reynolds shines as REG edge APR to qualify for 2024 WBLA

REG Women have qualified for the 2024 Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA), following their semi-final 82-77 victory over APR on Friday in Zone 5 Qualifiers .

Victoria Reynolds chipped in a game-best 26 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists to power REG to the Zone 5 final.

Kristina Morgan King had 21 points and 14 rebounds, whilst Mercy Wanyama and Destiney Promise Philoxy added 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Julian Martinez's women had the upper hand throughout most of the game. They took a 47-30 lead to the halftime break. APR rallied in the final quarter but fell short, trailing five points.

Itaee Lucas was APR's leading scorer with 21 points, while Kamba Diakite and Shaina Pellingtom added 18 and 12 points, respectively.

"We had a plan to stop their (APR) key players, bringing our individual brilliance while still playing as a unit and it worked well. Of course, being from the same league played a part as we know how they play and there are some bragging rights to this match-up," said REG's Victoria

"It is a tough loss for us. Our defense was really wanting and that affected our offensive strategies in a big way," APR captain Charlotte Umugwaneza said.

The Rwanda Energy Group-owned side will face Egypt's Al Ahly, who thumped KPA 104-63 in the semi-finals, in the final at the undergoing Women's Basketball League Africa Zone 5 Qualifiers in Zanzibar.

REG had reached the semi-finals after beating Uganda's JKL Dolphins 67-52 on Thursday in the quarter-finals, thanks to Kristina Morgan's 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

Meanwhile, Itaee Lucas had scored 23 points to spearhead APR to a 78-55 win over Gladiators of Burundi.

Photo: Kristina Morgan King starred in REG's 82-77 win over APR as the American power forward scored 21 points.