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Virgin Islands blowout Jamaica for third consecutive win
…to face The Bahamas today; on the brink of title
The USVI team remains perfect after three games in the FIBA Women’s Championship (FIBA photos)
Kaieteur Sports – The US Virgin Islands continued their red-hot run at the FIBA Women’s Caribbean Championship, overpowering Jamaica 93–43 on Saturday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
The USVI’s J-Naya Ephraim (#21) in defensive mode against Carissa Robinson of Jamaica at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
The victory marked their third straight win in as many games, putting them firmly on the brink of capturing the regional title.
With the tournament returning for the first time since 2022, when Cuba lifted the trophy, the Virgin Islands are now just one win away from becoming champions. They face the Bahamas today, and a victory will officially seal this year’s championship.
From the opening tip, the Virgin Islands displayed a level of pace, discipline, and scoring efficiency that no team in Georgetown has been able to match.
Leading the charge was J-Naya Ephraim, who delivered a near-flawless performance with 20 points on a scorching 8-for-11 shooting.
Dominating both inside and in transition, she was unstoppable, finishing at a blistering 72.7% from the field and pulling down six rebounds.
Alongside her, Anisha George was a force in the paint, pouring in 16 points while hitting an incredible 6-of-7 attempts. Her work on the glass and rim protection further frustrated Jamaica’s offense.
The Virgin Islands’ balanced attack was evident across the stat sheet. Imani Tate added a composed 16 points and seven rebounds, controlling the tempo whenever Jamaica threatened to make a run.
Naja Ngongba chipped in with 18 valuable points, slicing through the defense with clever cuts and confident finishes.
By halftime, the visitors had built a commanding lead, shooting above 50% from the floor while Jamaica struggled to keep pace. The defensive pressure never relented, forcing turnovers, contesting every look, and limiting Jamaica to just 30% shooting overall.
Jamaica, who entered the tournament hopeful of making a statement, simply had no answers. Tiffany Reynolds tried to keep her side afloat, dropping 17 points, but it was a lonely effort. Jamaica’s perimeter shooting failed to ignite, converting only 2-of-13 from three-point range.
Their 43 total points reflected just how dominant the Virgin Islands’ defensive rotations and physicality were.
The biggest statistical contrast came on the boards and in interior scoring. The Virgin Islands won the rebounding battle 46–22, racking up second-chance points that broke Jamaica’s rhythm and morale.
As the tournament inches toward its conclusion, the Virgin Islands have emerged as the clear powerhouse. Their 3–0 record, all blowout wins, underscores their status as favourites to secure the title on the tournament’s long-awaited return.
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