The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

WOMEN’S NCAA basketball had a homecoming experience of its own over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, as Jonquel Jones returned to Grand Bahama at the 2014 Junkanoo Jam.

Jones delivered an MVP performance and led her George Washington Colonials to the Freeport Division title at the St George’s Gymnasium.

The junior forward posted a double double in the title game, 14 points, all in the second half, and 14 rebounds in the 79-59 win over the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday.

En route to the Freeport Division title, the Colonials defeated a pair of 2014 NCAA tournament teams, the Boilermakers and the North Carolina State Wolfpack in consecutive days. Both teams were also receiving votes in the national polls.

In the opening 74-66 win over the Wolfpack, Jones lived up to her billing as the home crowd favourite with 22 points and nine rebounds in the Colonials’ 74-66 win.

It was the Colonials’ fourth appearance at the Junkanoo Jam, the most of any Division I school in tournament history, with prior visits in 2003, 2005 and 2009. No other team has participated in more than three Junkanoo Jam tournaments (Arizona State, Florida, Kansas State, USC, Virginia).

In the Lucaya divison, the No.1 ranked South Carolina Gamecoks showed why they are the top NCAA women’s basketball programme with the tournament title.

In the finale, they topped the Syracuse Orange 67-63 in the championship game.

The 2014-15 campaign is expected to be a breakout year for the George Washington Colonials and Bahamian forward Jonquel Jones.

In just her second season with the club, Jones has been pegged as a leader for the Colonials as one of its top returning scorers and an Atlantic-10 Preseason All-Conference and All-Defensive team selection.

In her sophomore season, Jones was named Atlantic 10 All-Conference honours when she was named to the second team. She helped the Colonials finish 23-11 overall and advance to the third round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).

Jones was the only player in the Atlantic 10 to average a double-double on the season, posting team bests of 14.7 points, 10.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. The Colonials return to action 2pm December 6, against Fresno State at the Charles E Smith Center.