Lady Dolphins surge ahead in NBL semifinals with back-to-back wins over UCU

National Basketball League playoffs 

Wednesday 8th ( Lugogo) Game 3
Lady Dolphins 65 Lady Canons 61

Friday 10th (Lugogo) Game 4
Lady Dolphins v Lady Canons 7pm
Margic Stommers v Lady Jaguars 9pm ( If needed)

The JKL Lady Dolphins took charge of the National Basketball League (NBL) Women’s semifinals, defeating the UCU Lady Canons 65–61 in game three on Wednesday 8th at Lugogo Indoor Arena to lead the best-of-five series 2–1.

After losing game one, the defending champions bounced back strongly, winning back-to-back games on Tuesday and Wednesday to move one step closer to another finals appearance. 

Hope Akello and Brenda Ekone led by example with powerful performances, combining for 37 points in Game Three.

Speaking after the victory, Hope Akello said, “Our focus is now on Game Four which we need to win to make it a 3–1 lead. We should improve on defense and maybe shooting too.” 

“We managed to control all quarters, we improved on our defense and offense,” she added.

Akello, who finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds, praised her team’s improved coordination and defensive intensity. 

“We corrected most of our challenges with a defensive plan pressing high, running through transitions, and fighting from bad spells,” she concluded.

Game Three was tightly contested, with UCU leading 34–25 at halftime after dominating the boards and earning 11 second-chance points.

However, JKL came alive in the second half, led by Akello and Ekone, who combined for 28 points after the break outscoring UCU’s entire team in that stretch.

Brenda Ekone finished with 17 points, while Martina Anyango added 15 points and Ritah Imanishimwe scored 8. For UCU, Shillah Lamunu led the charge with 11 points and 14 rebounds, but her side could not hold off JKL’s late surge.

In Game Two, played on Tuesday  the Lady Dolphins had leveled the series with a 59–51 victory over the Lady Canons. 

Ekone’s speed and energy troubled UCU early, helping JKL open a 15–11 lead in the first quarter.

Ritah Imanishimwe and Hope Akello each made two long-range shots in the second quarter, giving the Dolphins a 14-point cushion by halftime. 

Although UCU reduced the deficit to seven in the final quarter, Ekone’s 7–0 run restored control, guiding JKL to an eight-point win.

Brenda Ekone and Hope Akello both finished with 16 points in that game, as the Lady Dolphins  championship experience that has defined them in recent seasons.

The Lady Dolphins will now aim to seal the series on Friday, October 10, when they face UCU Lady Canons in Game Four at Lugogo Indoor Arena. A win will see them advance to the finals, while UCU will fight to force a decisive Game Five.

If needed, the JT Lady Jaguars will also play their potential Game Four against Magic Stormers on the same day, depending on the results from Thursday’s matchup where the Jaguars came in with a 2–0 lead and needed just one win to reach their first-ever final.