The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER losing to Cuba by 27 in their first game, the Bahamas women's national basketball team took their frustration out on St Vincent and the Grenadines and won by 25 in game two of the FIBA Caribbean Women's Cup on Tuesday.

Team Bahamas, with a shift in the starting line-up, went on to win 75-50 to push their record to 1-1 against St Vincent and the Grenadines - who also suffered a loss in their first game at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo, Suriname.

Assistant coach Varel Davis said it was a totally different game for Team Bahamas.

"The team played much better today," she stated. "Our defence was good. It was a team effort. Things went well, but we still need to work on cutting down on our turnovers, free throws and finishing around the basket.

"But we're happy with the win."

Opener

Just as they did in the opener, Team Bahamas got off to a slow start, falling behind 5-0 in the first minute and a half in the first quarter before Shalonda Neely canned a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to 5-2.

At the 6:02 mark in the period, Britenique Harrison scored on a lay-up to put Team Bahamas ahead for good - at 7-6. They went on to outscore St Vincent and the Grenadines 6-3 the rest of the way for a 13-9 lead at the first break.

Team Bahamas went on a 24-14 spurt in the second quarter for a 37-23 advantage at the half. St Vincent and the Grenadines held a 19-16 scoring spree in the third to cut the deficit to 53-42 at the final break.

In the fourth quarter, Team Bahamas poured it on with a 22-8 rout to secure the win.

Team Bahamas had three players in double figures as Tracy Lewis came off the bench in 20 minutes and 15 seconds and ignited the spark with 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Valerie Nesbitt, the top scorer in game one, also came off the bench and contributed 12 points with four rebounds, two assists and a steal; Pamela Bethel, in a starting role, had 12 points as well with seven rebounds, three steals and a block shot.

Brea Forbes had nine points, seven rebounds, three assists and as many steals; Arlia Greene, inserted into the starting line-up, had six points; Neely finished with six points and three rebounds and Harrison had six points, four rebounds and two blocks.

St Vincent and the Grenadines had two players in double figures, led by starter Vasha Adams with a game high 16 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks and Nathifa Weekes came off the bench and added 10 points, five rebounds and four steals.

Team Bahamas will be off today and will wait to see who they will face in the playoffs when the pools cross over.

Cuba and St Vincent and the Grenadines will play the final game in Group A to determine who will be the next team to join Team Bahamas.

The top two teams will advance to play the top two teams from Group B, comprising of the Dominican Republic, Suriname, Barbados and Guyana, in the playoffs that are set to start on Wednesday.

The winners will then go into the championship game on Thursday, while the losers will play for third place.

The top two teams from the tournament will advance to the Centro Basket, scheduled for August 20-24 in Puerto Rico.