The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahamian Jonquel Jones had another terrific game, but it wasn’t enough as Bosnia and Herzegovina ended their run at the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket in the quarterfinals on Tuesday in Strasbourg, France.

Leaving it all on the floor, Jones poured in another double-double with game high honours of 29 points and 24 rebounds, 21 coming on the defensive end, as the Bosnia and Herzagovina team went down 80-67 to France.

In playing a total of 36 minutes, Jones shot 10-for-22 or 45.5 percent from the field, 8-for-14 or 57.1 percent from two-shot, 6-for-14 or 25 percent from the three-point line and was a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line. She also committed three personal fouls and made as many turnovers, while adding a blocked shot to her stat line.

No other player from Bosnia and Herzagovina scored in double figures, leaving Jones to carry the tea on her bag. But it was obvious that she needed all the help she could get.

France, by the way, had four players in double figures with both Sandrine Gruda (three rebounds, three assists and two steals) and Marine Johannes (five assists, three rebounds and two steals) connecting on 15 points apiece.

While Bosnia and Herzagovina got eliminated, France will move on to the semifinals scheduled for Saturday. The final of the tournament will be played on Sunday.

Through the five games she played in, Jones led the tournament in points scored per game with an average of 22.4 percent after scoring a total of 112 points.

She also led in rebounds with 82 or 16.4 per game; was third in blocked shots with eight or 1.7 per game; was tied for 28th in assists with 14 or 2.8 per game and tied for 35th with a host of others in steals with five or 1.0 per game.

Jones, 27, took time off from the Connecticut Sun in the Women’s Basketball Association to travel to France to represent her new international team playing in one of the biggest events around the world.

The Bahamas is no way near qualifying to play in the tournament, which was one of the reasons why Jones decided to play for Bosnia and Herzagovina so that she could gain some additional exposure.

She admitted that it was strictly a business decision when she agreed to play for Bosnia and Herzagovina.

In her absence from the WNBA, Connecticut, coached by Curt Miller, went on a three-game losing streak before they won their last game 80-70 over the Dallas Wings on Monday night.

The Sun, still leading the Eastern Conference at 9-5, would gladly welcome Jones back as they continue their quest to contend for the title this year. It’s not certain the exact date that Jones will be back in the line-up.