The Women's National Team before their game against Puerto Rico Photo Credit: FIBA BASKETBALL
The Virgin Islands Women's Basketball National Team hung tight with Puerto Rico, who are ranked 23rd in the world, but ended up losing, 73-69, in the opening game of the Centrobasket Women’s Championship, a qualifier for the Women’s FIBA Americup this summer. The team led for more than 27 of the 40 minutes of play but were unable to secure the victory.
The Virgin Islands' biggest lead was 10 points with just over 30 seconds left in the first half, 39-29, but Puerto Rico began to trim the deficit and by halftime the lead was just six 39-33.
Puerto Rico overtook the Virgin Islands for the first time in the second half with about four and a half minutes left in the third quarter. The Virgin Islands re-took their lead quickly and led 52-50 heading into the final quarter. With just under nine minutes left, the USVI team led 55-50.
The Virgin Islands led 60-56 with just over five minutes of play left, but the team was unable to hold on as Puerto Rico closed the game on a 17-9 run during the final stretch to complete a comeback effort and win.
Three players on the Virgin Islands team had double-doubles. Anisha George led the Virgin Islands with 30 points and 15 rebounds, Taylor Jones had 13 points and 10 rebounds and Imani Tate had 10 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists. The Virgin Islands dominated on the glass and out-rebounded Puerto Rico 55-36.
The USVI team will play Costa Rica today on FIBA’s Youtube Channel, with the stream scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m.
