The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) women’s basketball fell 61-37 in the final game of their first Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) homestand to Oakwood University on Saturday Night at the Elridge Blake Sports and Fitness Center. The loss dropped the Lady Buccaneers to 0-8 on the season and 0-4 in GCAC play.
The two teams battled early in a defense-driven first quarter. Both teams were able to slow each other down offensively. At the end of the first quarter, it was only a 12-8 ball game with UVI trailing.
The game began slipping away for the Lady Bucs in the second quarter as they struggled to take care of the basketball and their opponent capitalized on their turnovers. The Ambassadors opened their lead and were able to cruise to victory.
Brea Patterson led the way offensively for the Lady Bucs as she scored 17 points on the evening.
Kashay Bass proved to be the anchor on the defensive end for her team as she posted 10 rebounds and three blocks in the contest. The junior rim protector currently averages 2.4 blocks per game which leads the GCAC and ranks sixth in the NAIA.
UVI freshman forward Jada Issac recorded a career-high 13 rebounds.
For the Ambassadors, Nekaya Williams led the way with 19 points.
The Lady Buccaneers hit the road for three consecutive conference games as they take
on Philander Smith University, Rust College, and Tougaloo College on January 9, 11,
and 13 respectively. All three matchups can be seen on Channel 120 of 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.