Sarah Ogoke was the top performer at the City Arena in Yaounde, Cameroon as D’Tigress shot to the top of Group B, thanks to Angola’s defeat early in the day.
The Angolans, who beat Nigeria 57-51 in their opening match on Friday, lost 52-53 to Egypt, are now also on seven points from four games.
Nothing seemed to work out for Senegal as the team leading scorer Astou Traore only scored her first two points later in the third quarter to finish with six points. Nigeria’s Ogoke was on top form to scoop five rebounds and made four assists.
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Although D’Tigress entered the final quarter leading 60-48, Senegal managed to cut the deficit to just six points. But a succession of poor execution resulting in three turnovers in that moment of the game allowed Nigeria to regain a 12-point lead.
This is Nigeria’s first win over Senegal in the last three meetings at AfroBasket Women competition, prompting Joyce Ekworomadu to describe the win as “big statement, but we need to face one game at time.”
Nigeria, Angola and Egypt are all on seven points each going into Tuesday’s games, but Nigeria have a better points difference of 87, as against 27 and 21 respectively.
The competition ends on Saturday, with the winners qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.