HBCU GRAD SPARKS NIGERIAN UPSET IN WOMEN’S HOOPS AT 2024 OLYMPICS
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Posted By: Catalina Deossa on August 01, 2024 At the Paris Olympics 2024, the Nigerian women’s basketball team pulled off a major upset by defeating Australia 75-62 at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille, France. The standout performer for Nigeria was Ezinee Kalu, a graduate of Savannah State University, who scored 19 points, including 11 in the first quarter. Kalu’s impressive performance featured three 3-pointers in the opening quarter, significantly contributing to her team's success. This victory is particularly noteworthy given the recent controversy surrounding the Nigerian women’s basketball team, which reportedly faced difficulties such as being allegedly denied entry to the delegation's boat for the opening ceremony of the Olympics. Despite these challenges, Kalu and her teammates demonstrated resilience and skill on the court. Ezinee Kalu’s basketball career is marked by numerous achievements. During her senior season at Savannah State in 2015, she led the Lady Tigers to a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament Championship, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I National Tournament. She was also recognized with multiple honors, including All-MEAC First Team and MEAC All-Tournament Team selections. Kalu’s career at Savannah State saw her play 131 games, averaging 16.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.9 steals per game. After graduating with a degree in history in 2015, Kalu embarked on a professional career that took her to various countries, including Portugal, Hungary, Germany, and France. Her international career has been distinguished by several accolades, such as being named the 2016 Guard of the Year in Portugal’s 1st Division, 2017 Defensive Player of the Year in Budapest’s 1st Division, and MVP of the AfroBasket Tournament in 2019. She was also recognized as the Top 12 Best Player of Africa in 2020 and received numerous honors in the French leagues, including 1st Team All-French Player and Guard of the Year in 2020. Kalu’s leadership on the Nigerian National Team has been significant, serving as Captain from 2016-17 and Co-Captain in 2018. She has been part of the Nigerian teams that won AfroBasket Tournament championships in 2017, 2019, and 2021. Born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, Kalu has a diverse background with a Nigerian father and a mother from Greenville, South Carolina. With this recent victory, Nigeria’s women’s basketball team advances to play France on August 1 and Canada on August 4. If they continue to perform well, they could advance to the quarterfinals on August 7, the semifinals on August 9, and potentially the bronze and gold medal games on August 11. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Catalina Deossa
Archaeologist, CHRONOS SAS Florida Int`l Univ class of 2011 Member Since April 2024 |
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