HomeNewsLocal newsWatch: USVI Women’s Basketball Team Competes in FIBA Americas Qualifier in Guyana

Watch: USVI Women’s Basketball Team Competes in FIBA Americas Qualifier in Guyana

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Americas region is holding a women’s regional championship to determine who advances to the 2026 Centrobasket Women’s Championships and the USVI helps kick it off with a game against host Guyana Thursday night.

Five national delegations traveled to Georgetown, Guyana, to compete in this round-robin tournament, Nov. 12-16, 2025. The Bahamas, Jamaica, Suriname, United States Virgin Islands (USVI), and host Guyana will fight for three open spots in the 2026 FIBA Centrobasket Women’s Championships.

The USVI roster is filled with seasoned international players who were members of the 2023 USVI Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games team, who brought home the gold medal. Lanese Bough, J-Naya Ephriam, Anisha George, Natalie Kleeman-Day, Naja Ngongba, Keshara Romain, and Imani Tate are all returning from that golden team.  Victoria Hamilton and Taylor Jones are also experienced players on this roster. The last spot on this ten-women roster is La’Kaisah Graham, a 15-year-old Central High School Sophomore phenom who is making her international senior women’s team debut.

Head Coach Tajama Ngongba and assistant Clint Williams, are leading this talented group of women. They were at the helm in 2023 and are looking to keep this program moving in the right direction.

The tournament got underway on Wednesday, with the USVI receiving a bye on the first day. In the opening game, Jamaica defeated Suriname 86-47. Jamaica was led by Tiffany Reynolds, who scored 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Shakya Peroti was the top scorer for Suriname with 14.

The host Guyana got off to an electric start, scoring 102 while holding Bahamas to just 75 points. Amisha Ramlell and Ruth Adams lit up the scoreboard for the home team with 33 and 22 points, respectively. Lashann Higgs dropped 23 points in a losing effort for Bahamas.

The USVI tips off their tournament at 8:30 p.m. as they face the home team, Guyana, on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. Bahamas will take on Suriname at 4:30 p.m. in the first game of the day.

Click to view the live game:  https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-cbc-womens-championship-2025/games/130692-ISV-GUY

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