2013 AfroBasket: Mali outgun Cape Verde in opener

Djene Diawara

Mali - Cape Verde 73:62

Mali opened their AfroBasket campaign with victory. They held off Cape Verde in Group B opener. Djene Diawara (192-C-85) stepped up with 28 points and 7 rebounds for the winners.
Mali unloaded 27 points in the starting quarter to take an 11-point lead. Cape Verde stiffened defensively in the second term. They held Mali to 12 points in the period and got within 8 points at halftime 39:31. Mali improved offensively in the third term. They notched 23 points and established a 13-point lead at the final intermission. Cape Verde held Mali to only 11 points in the fourth frame but could not avoid the defeat. Ouleymatou Coulibaly (190-C-90) posted 13 points, while Meiya Tirera (186-F-86) added 9 points in the victory. Jade Leitao (178-F/C-83, college: Fordham) responded with 26 points for Cape Verde. Ornela Livramento (93) had 13 points in the losing effort.

Mali: Djene Diawara 28, Ouleymatou Coulibaly 13, Meiya Tirera 9
Cape Verde: Jade Leitao 26, Ornela Livramento 13