Lady Buccaneers Come Up Short Vs. Philander Smtih
Little Rock, Arkansas, January 17, 2025 – In a conference matchup at Mims Gymnasium on January 16, the University of The Virgin Islands (UVI) Lady Buccaneers suffered defeat against the Philander Smith University Lady Panthers. Despite a valiant effort and strong performances from several UVI players, the team ultimately fell short with a final score of 64-50.
The first half of the game was closely contested, featuring six ties and seven lead changes, setting the stage for an intense battle. The Lady Buccaneers showed great competitive spirit, starting the game on a positive note and ending the first quarter tied at 15 after a 7-2 run. However, Philander Smith managed to take a slight lead by halftime, with the score at 33-27.
Although the Lady Panthers extended their lead in the second half, the Lady Buccaneers fought hard to stay within striking distance. Unfortunately, turnovers and missed opportunities proved to be crucial in the narrow score margin. The Lady Buccaneers struggled to maintain momentum in the fourth quarter, allowing the Lady Panthers to secure the victory.
Senior forward Kashay Bass led the team with 16 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks, while Ashukamay'ah Phillips contributed 14 points and Maliah LaCour recorded 11 points. Mia Davis made a significant impact on the defensive end with 11 rebounds and three steals.
Head coach Stephanie Cooper shared her thoughts on the game, stating, "Collectively everyone made the most of their minutes, we had some players who have really stepped up and accepted new roles for our team and it's working out well. We continue to play really good defense, and our chemistry is coming together on the offensive end, just have to work on putting ourselves in better scoring positions."
Looking ahead, the Lady Buccaneers will travel to Marshall, Texas to face the Lady Wildcats of Wiley University on Saturday, January 18 at 1 pm. This will be followed by a matchup with Tougaloo College on January 20 before returning home to the Virgin Islands.
