The Tribune

EIGHT Division-I women's college basketball teams will compete in the 15th Annual Junkanoo Jam, all set to be held November 23-25 at Gateway Christian Academy in Bimini, Bahamas.

The tournament, presented by the Hilton at Resorts World Bimini, will have a field that will include Baylor, Central Michigan, Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Missouri State, Penn, San Diego State, and Tulane.

The Junkanoo Jam features two four-team divisions in a two-game bracket competing for separate tournament championships.

Baylor, Georgia Tech, Missouri State, and Penn will compete in the Junkanoo Division.

Missouri State and Baylor will tip off the 2017 tournament at 3pm on Thursday. Penn and Georgia Tech will follow at 5:15pm. The losing teams will compete in the third-place game at 7:45pm on Friday.

The championship game of the Junkanoo Division will tip off at 2pm on Saturday, November 25.

Central Michigan, Iowa State, San Diego State, and Tulane will compete in the Bimini Division. The opening game of the division tips off at 3pm on Friday between the Golden Waves and the Cyclones. San Diego State and Central Michigan will face off in the following game at 5:15pm.

The losing teams from the opening round will battle for third place at 4:15pm on Saturday. The championship game of the division concludes the 2017 Junkanoo Jam with a scheduled 6:45pm tip-off.

Over the past years, some of the players who were drafted into the WNBA competed in this tournament, including Jonquel Jones. MVP 2014 - Freeport Division. 2016 saw two Bahamian rising stars compete as well - Destiny Walker - North Carolina and Shanea Armbrister -University of Georgia. All games will stream live via www.FloHoops.com.

To access the live event coverage and replays of the Junkanoo Jam, users must sign up to become FloPRO subscribers onFloHoops.com.

The Junkanoo Jam is held at Gateway Christian Academy less than a quarter mile from the resort. The gymnasium is a privately-owned and air-conditioned gym. Additionally, the gym offers fiber-optics internet connectivity courtesy of BTC. Scores will put updated on the Facebook page and Junkanoo Jam.

Teams and fans will stay at the Hilton at Resorts World Bimini, the official partner of the Junkanoo Jam. Built in 2016, the resort has 305 rooms, including 18 suites, eight restaurants and bars, four pools, a casino, snorkelling, big game fishing and is located less than a 10-minute walk from the Gateway Christian Academy gymnasium.

Located just 50 miles off Florida's coast, Bimini is the closest Bahamian island to the United States, boasting miles of pristine beaches. Known as Ernest Hemingway's favourite escape, Bimini is historically significant. Visitors from around the world enjoy its historical complexity and renowned past.

The Junkanoo Jam, formally held on Grand Bahama Island, was relocated to the Bimini Islands in 2016 after damage caused by Hurricane Matthew on Grand Bahama Island prior to the event. After working closely with the Bahamian Ministry of Tourism, the event continued at the site in Bimini.

Thursday

3pm - Missouri State vs Baylor.

5:15pm - Penn vs Georgia Tech

Friday

3pm - Tulane vs Iowa State

5:15pm - San Diego State vs

Central Michigan

7:45pm - Junkanoo Jam

third place game

Saturday

2pm - Junkanoo Jam

Championship game.

4:15pm - Bimini third place game

6:45pm - Bimini championship game