The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) women’s basketball team fell 65-61 to Southern University-New Orleans (SUNO) on Saturday afternoon as time expired during their hard-fought battle in The Castle at SUNO.
In a game of runs, the Lady Knights of SUNO jumped out to a 16-6 lead early in the first quarter. However, UVI made some offensive adjustments midway through the quarter and responded on an 8-0 run to close the quarter trailing 16-14.
The score remained close in the second quarter as the conference foes traded baskets throughout the period. The Lady Bucs were able to go on a 7-0 run and establish a solid lead as the minutes wound down in the half. A three-point jumper by SUNO with 44 seconds left in the period tied the game and sent the teams into halftime tied at 32.
The tight battle continued well into the second half as the Lady Bucs remained within striking position even after falling behind. The Buccaneers took a 44-43 lead after Jordan Carter made a free throw in the closing minutes of the 3rd quarter. However, the lead was short-lived as the Lady knights regained the lead and the fourth quarter on a 10-0 run giving them their largest lead of the game.
The Buccaneers stormed back from a 10-point deficit to bring the game within one point late in the final period. The Lady Knights were able to score on the ensuing possession to stop the run. A missed field goal attempt with 12 seconds left on the clock sealed the fate for UVI (0-5, 0-1 GCAC).
Carter scored a game-high 22 points in this outing for the Lady Bucs. Thirteen of those points came in the second half to keep her team in the game. The junior guard shot 7-of-14 from the field including making four of her shot attempts from three-point territory. She also recorded four steals. Junior guard Mia Davis led the team in rebounding, recording a season-high nine rebounds.
For SUNO (1-9, 1-0 GCAC), Jordan Harris was the leading scorer with 20 points.
The Lady Buccaneers continue their road trip with another conference matchup at Dillard University on Monday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. AST. The game will be broadcast live on channel 120 via the HBCU+ app.
About UVI Athletics
The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and, as of July 1, 2023, competes in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC). Entering the 2023-24 season, the Buccaneers will begin their 17th season of athletic competition. As the only Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the Caribbean, UVI currently sponsors six sports, including men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s basketball, and men’s and women’s outdoor track and field. For more information on UVI Athletics, visit UVIAthletics.com.