Mashauri Dazzles as Foxes Divas Edge Past Zetech in WBLA Classification Game

Mashauri Dazzles as Foxes Divas Edge Past Zetech in WBLA Classification Game

The Tanzania-based club Foxes Divas finished off their classification game in the Women's Basketball League Africa 2025 Qualifiers, and they have Mercyana Mashauri to thank for it. In a game that was tougher than the final score might suggest, Mashauri's brilliance ultimately powered the Divas to a hard-fought 67-56 win over Kenya's Zetech squad.

The gym in Nairobi was electric from the start, with both teams trading baskets in a frantic opening quarter that ended in a tie at 18-18. The home team, Zetech, came to play; there's no doubt about it, but just as the game seemed to be settling into a tense back-and-forth heading into the second quarter, Mercyauna Mashauri decided to put her stamp on it for the visitors as she helped her team to a five-point lead at halftime.

There was no comeback for the students in the second half, and the Foxes remained dominant with strong play on both offence and defence. The Tanzanians closed out the half with a combined 33 points, as against the Kenyans' combined 27 points.

Mashauri was simply unplayable and dominant. Whenever Zetech closed the lane, she found an opening, blowing past them for a drive to the hoop and finishing off brilliantly. She wasn't just scoring; she was the engine of the entire Divas' offence, finding her teammates with slick passes whenever the defence inevitably collapsed on her. You could feel the momentum swing every time she touched the ball, and it was no surprise that she posted 21 points and grabbed a massive 14 rebounds.

Behind their star, the rest of the Foxes Divas locked in as they started getting their hands in passing lanes, turning defence into instant offence. Every crucial offensive rebound seemed to fall their way, sucking the wind out of any potential Zetech run. It was the kind of gritty, team-wide effort that turns a close game into a solid victory. Mashauri received strong support from Yvonne Muhawenimana, who finished with 16 points, and Evelyne Nakiyingi, who also registered 15 points in the win.

For Zetech, Esther Ashley Minayo was their top performer, finishing with 12 points and grabbing five rebounds.

You have to give credit to Zetech, though. They never threw in the towel. They kept fighting, scrapping for every loose ball until the final buzzer. But on this day, they had no answer for the force that was Mercyauna Mashauri. She was the difference-maker, the one who could get a bucket when her team absolutely needed it.

This win gives the Foxes Divas a strong finish in the final standings, as they secured the fifth position in the qualifiers. Meanwhile, for Zetech, it's a tough one to swallow, but they have shown the continent that they belong on this stage.

[Photography Courtesy of FIBA/WBLA]