Captain Melissa Akinyi put up a scintillating performance, sinking in 21 points, four assists and three steals as the Kenya Lionesses booked a slot in the Zone Five Women’s Afrobasket qualifiers with a 79-52 victory over hosts Rwanda in Kigali on Saturday evening.

Kenya made amends and sent in revenge against the hosts who had beaten them 77-45 in the opening game of the tournament.

USA based superstar Felmas Koranga picked up a game double-double with her contribution of 12 points, 10 steals, three rebounds and two blocks. Victoria Reynolds also came big for the Lionesses, contributing to 16 points, six rebounds and three steals.

The Lionesses seamed to have learned from their mistakes in the last match against Egypt where they blew up a 25 point lead to lose 107-106 and were efficient against the Rwandese who also beat them in the first round matches.

Kenya will now face off with the Egyptians in the final and will hope to clinch the sole ticket to represent the region in the final tournament set for Cameroon in September. The North Africans sailed through after hammering South Sudan 99-65 in the first semi-final.

The Lionesses were in no mood for mistakes, leading in all the quarters. They were 25-11 up by the end of the first quarter before outscoring the hosts 17-12 in the second quarter for a 42-23 halftime lead.

After the rest they were back where they stopped, the Kenyan girls once again picking more points in the final two quarters, leading 26-14 in the third and 15-11 in the fourth.