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Defense was the Main Entrée on Day 2 of Paradise Jam Women’s Tournament

Birthday girl Brinea Alexander of Vanderbilt warms up before the game on Friday against Rutgers University. (Photo by Mark J Daniel)

Island Division
Game 5 – Vanderbilt University 51 – Rutgers University 40
Rutgers players will be seeing sailing Commodores in their dreams as Vanderbilt’s press held the Scarlet Knights to produce only eight first-half points. The Scarlet Knights of Rutgers University shot 2-of-8 from the field in the first and only made one of their eight field goals attempted in the second. The Knights handled the Vanderbilt Commodores press much better in the second half, scoring 32 points in that frame. Still, it wasn’t enough to crawl out the hole they dug in the first half as Vanderbilt University defeated Rutgers University 51-40 in this defensive struggle. The Commodores forced 26 Scarlet Knights turnovers, and Rutgers defense was responsible for 21 Vanderbilt miscues. Birthday girl Brinae Alexander of Vanderbilt was the game’s top scorer with 11 points. Her teammate Jordyn Cambridge added 10 points, six steals, and five rebounds. Jailyn Mason led the Scarlet Knights with nine points.

Game 6 – University of Arizona 75 – DePaul University 68
This game felt like an old fashion heavy-weight boxing match as both teams left their hearts on the floor with the Arizona Wildcats outlasting DePaul Blue Demons to earn the 75-68 win. Arizona shot 56% from the field amidst constant pressure from the Blue Demon defense that caused 17 Wildcats turnovers. Arizona also had a stellar night defensively, registering 11 steals. Sam Thomas was the team’s ring leader with four takeaways. Thomas and Bendu Yeaney recorded three blocks each as Arizona collectively registered ten blocks for the game. This game was close most of the way as the lead changed hands six times in the first three quarters, with Arizona’s 10- point bulge in the second being the largest for either team during that time. The Blue Demons fought back to make it just a two-point deficit at the end of the first half. Going into the final quarter, the game was knotted at 51 when the Wildcats heated up like the Arizona sun shooting 60% in that quarter, including 3-pointers by Shaina Pellington and Thomas securing the victory for Arizona. Cate Reese dropped 19 points to lead the Wildcats offensive attack. Shaina Pellington and Lauren Ware contributed 14 and 12 points, respectively. Aneesah Morrow of DePaul University had an all-star night, registering game-highs in scoring, 24 points, and rebounds, 16 boards. Deja Church also chipped in 13 points for the Blue Demons.

The final games in the Island Division will be Vanderbilt University versus DePaul University at 2 p.m. and Rutgers University against the University of Arizona at 4:15 p.m. Saturday at UVI’s Sports and Fitness Center.

Reef Division
Game 7 – University of Pittsburg 72 – Northwestern University 60
The University of Pittsburg Panthers rebounded after suffering their first loss of the season with a twelve-point victory over Northwestern University Wildcats 72-60 on Day 2 of Paradise Jam Women Tournament. Pittsburg’s pressure defense held the Wildcats to 34% shooting for the field. Northwestern’s defense was also outstanding, causing 23 Pittsburgh turnovers. Pittsburgh was in complete control of this game all the way. The Panther’s Liatu King was queen on the boards collecting 19 rebounds for the second consecutive game. King also scored 23 points for Pittsburgh. Jillian Brown paced the Wildcats attack with 14 points. Veronica Burton and Courtney Shaw contributed 12 points each for Northwestern. Shaw also registered ten rebounds in the loss.

Game 8 – Texas A&M University 58 – South Dakota University 44
It was a tale of two halves as Texas A&M Aggies came away with a 58-44 win over South Dakota University to close out the second day of the Paradise Jam Women’s Tournament on Friday evening. The game was tied at 12 at the end of the opening quarter. Texas A&M was held to nine points in the second, only connecting on three of their 14 shots. However, the Coyotes came out howling in the second quarter, shooting 53%, including 3-pointers by Jeniah Ugofsky and Maddie Krull to open up a nine-point halftime lead. In the second half, fortunes would change for both teams. South Dakota’s Chloe Lamb opened the third quarter with a jumper at the 9:04 mark, and that would be their final made basket of the quarter. As the Coyotes cooled off, the Aggies’ shots started to fall as they shot 57% from the field in the third quarter to put the game away. Kayla Wells scored a game-high 20 points while her teammate Jordan Nixon registered 13 for the Aggies. The Coyotes Liv Korngable dropped 11 points, and Hannah Sjerven made 10 points.

The Reef Division will feature the University of Pittsburgh versus South Dakota University at 6:45 p.m. Northwestern University will face off against Texas A&M at 9 p.m. to close the 2021 Paradise Jam.

This event is being held with the blessing of the Virgin Islands Department of Health. The Sport and Fitness Center doors are open to both the vaccinated and non-vaccinated.

Here are the procedures.

For vaccinated individuals, you must walk with your vaccination card or prove that you have taken the vaccine. A picture ID is also required before entry.

Non-vaccinated spectators must produce a negative COVID test result no more than two days old. The Department of Health will be conducting FREE on-site testing on individuals who are not vaccinated but desire to attend the tournament. Those individuals must also show identification upon entering the arena. So, everyone is invited to journey to the Sports and Fitness Center and enjoy top-quality college basketball.

Here are the times the DOH will be conducting on-site testing.

Saturday, November 27, 2021: 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.

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