The United States Virgin Islands Women came out of the gate strong in their first game at the 2025 Women’s Caribbean Basketball Championships held in Georgetown, Guyana.
The home team was fresh off an opening-day 27-point thrashing of the Bahamas, scoring 102 points. The team was taking the court for the first time. Guyana led 6-0 very early in the contest as the USVI ladies were knocking off some rust. However, the island girls turned on the defense, forcing 27 turnovers. Anisha George, J-Naya Ephraim, Taylor Jones, and Imani Tate all recorded three steals in the win. The Virgin Islands held the team that shot 60% from the field, including making 63% of their three-point shots just the night before, to 24 first-half points.
George and Jones carried the load for the USVI offensively, scoring 23 and 18 points, respectively. This was a total team effort as everyone on the USVI roster played and all but one scored in their 78-54 win.
In the opening game of the day, the Bahamas defeated Suriname 77-45. The Bahamian team had several standouts. Lashann Higgs was the game’s leading scorer with 35 points. LaTavia Braynen collected 13 rebounds. Guard Valerie Nesbitt scored 13 points, dished out 11 assists, and recorded six steals. Beyoncé Jedinie had a double-double, dropping 15 points and snatching 11 rebounds.
The schedule for Friday, Nov. 14, has Suriname playing the USVI at 4:30 p.m. and Jamaica battling the Bahamas at 8:30 p.m.
