The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FORWARD Shanea Armbrister and guard Philicia Kelly combined for 39 points as the Bahamas women’s national team picked up their second straight victory at the Caribbean Basketball Confederation Championships yesterday in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

While Armbrister posted 16 points with eight rebounds, five steals, two assists and two blocks in 28 minutes and 33 seconds to lead the attack, team captain Kelly contributed 14 points with four rebounds in 20:36 minutes. The team, however, had to come from behind for a 62-54 victory over St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Valerie Nesbitt, the youngest member of the team, once again came off the bench and in 25 minutes, exploded for eight points with five rebounds and three assists. Linda Pierre also came off the bench and chipped in with six points and three rebounds in 10:50 minutes.

The three other starters were Diasti Delancy, who had four points and four assists, Ashley Moss (four points, nine rebounds, four block shots and two steals) and Shalonda Neely with four points, nine rebounds and two assists. Latoya Thompson came off the bench with three points, three rebounds and three steals and Albertha Russell and Malesha Petterson both chipped in with two points.

Sheldeen Joseph paced St Vincent and the Grenadines with 19 points and six rebounds and Lorna Caesar scored 11 points with three rebounds and three assists as they both played the entire 40 minutes. Vasha Adams was the only other player in double figures with 10 points and eight rebounds.

The Bahamas, coached by Yolett McPhee-McCuin, assisted by Donnie Culmer and Varel Clarke-Davis, had to come from an 18-9 deficit at the end of the first quarter and 40-29 at the half. When they came out of the break, it was a complete turn around for the Bahamas.

In the third quarter, the Bahamas used a 20-7 spurt to surge ahead 49-47 going into the fourth quarter. The Bahamas got a three-pointer from Kelly with 7:34 into the third to cut the deficit to 44-37 and holding their opponents scoreless, took a 49-44 lead on Pierre’s jumper with 49 seconds remaining.

The Bahamas continued to apply the pressure after Moss scored the first basket in the fourth, two minutes into the play for a 51-47 lead. Both teams struggled to score in what turned out to be a defensive battle. St Vincent and the Grenadines came within five (59-52) on a three-pointer from Joseph at 2:55.

Armbrister canned a jumper with 2:09 remaining on the clock for a 62-54 lead, which turned out to be the final score as neither team managed to score the rest of the way.

Despite giving up two more turnovers, 27-25, the Bahamas held a slim 25-73 (34 per cent) advantage over their opponents’ 21-66 for 32% from the field. The Bahamas also held the advantages in rebounds 50-42, assists 14-10, steals 18-15 and blocks 8-2. The Bahamas also had a slight edge 26-24 in points in the paint, 8-6 in second chance points and 15-9 on points off turnovers.

The Bahamas, coming off their 67-63 victory over the US Virgin Islands on Monday, will now face Antigua & Barbuda in their third and final game in the round robin segment 4:15pm today.

The team will come back Thursday to start the playoffs. The tournament is slated to wrap up on Friday.