Friend's Basketball Association Women vs. SOA Women – Côte d'Ivoire Women's Championship N1

Date: May 15, 2026

In a competitive Côte d'Ivoire Women's Championship N1 matchup, Friend's Basketball Association Women defeated SOA Women 81-73 on home court. The victory was fueled by balanced scoring and a strong defensive effort in the second half, which allowed the hosts to pull away after a tight first two quarters.

Match Overview

The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with SOA Women holding a narrow 40-38 lead at the break. Friend's Basketball Association Women came out of the locker room with renewed intensity, outscoring SOA 22-16 in the third quarter to take a 60-56 lead. In the fourth quarter, the home team’s depth proved decisive: a 12-4 run midway through the period stretched the lead to double digits, and SOA could not recover.

Key Moments

• Third-quarter defense: Friend's forced six turnovers in the third quarter, converting them into 10 easy points.
• Bench contribution: Friend's reserves outscored SOA’s bench 28-14, providing crucial energy and scoring when starters rested.
• Clutch rebounding: Friend's grabbed 12 offensive rebounds, leading to 14 second-chance points, which neutralized SOA’s half-court defense.

Standout Players

• Friend's Basketball Association Women: Their small forward led all scorers with 20 points, adding 6 rebounds and 4 assists. The point guard chipped in 14 points and 8 assists, controlling the tempo.
• SOA Women: Their power forward put up 18 points and 10 rebounds, but fouled out with two minutes left, hampering her team’s comeback bid.

Season Impact

The win pushes Friend's Basketball Association Women to a 7-3 record in the league, keeping them in contention for the top playoff spots. SOA Women fell to 5-5, sitting in the middle of the table. The result highlights Friend's ability to win close games, a key trait as the season enters its decisive second half.