A 65-52 win over Trinid and and Tobago recently helped the USVI Women’s team earn the Caribbean Basketball Confederation championships bronze medal, while the Domincan Republic earned the silver and Jamaica took home the gold.
As the CBC games continued on Tortola over the weekend, Trinidad and Tobago held the early 17-11 lead and left the first quarter two points ahead. The USVI squad fought back coming into the second quarter, and was able to go into halftime with a 34-29 lead through break-out points, rebounds and shooting from the bench.
Moving into the fourth quarter, Trinidad and Tobago went on a seven-point run, but a timeout on USVI’s side allowed for a second wind.
Coming in from the break, USVI’s team captain Victoria Hamilton started her team’s 12-0 run with a freethrow that was followed up by baskets from Tanecka Carey, Natalie Day and Sherelle George. Trinidad and Tobago followed with a three-pointer, but USVI was already up 61-43.
The USVI held on for the win. For the game, Day led her team with 16 points, six rebounds and six steals, while Carey followed with 15 points and Hamilton had 12 rebounds and six assists.
USVI coach Tajama Abraham Ngongba said that, while her team gave Trinidad and Tobago some second and third chances to score on the court, the USVI was also the smallest and youngest team competing.
USVI also won the CBC bronze in 2011. The team will travel to the Centrobasket tournment in Monterrey, Mexico, at the end of this month, along with the teams from Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.
