Buccaneers Survive Thriller on The Final Day of the UVI HBCU Classic

ST. THOMAS V.I.  It came down to free throws as Huston-Tillotson University missed the game-tying free throw with 3.2 ticks remaining and Kaeani Berry recovered the defensive rebound for the 68-67 UVI Women's Basketball victory on the final day of the UVI HBCU Basketball Classic.

With 43 seconds remaining, Berry went one-of-two from the stripe for a 68-66 score. On the final possession of the game, the Rams missed two potential game-winning three-pointers and missed a game-tying layup before the missed free throw that could have forced an extra period.

The Buccaneers shot a season-best 56 percent (24-of-43) from the field and 50 percent from deep in this game. The seven threes made were also a season-high. Making her season debut, Amber Appiah-Kubi had a team-high 16 points (6-of-13 from the field and 3-of-7 from three) and five assists. Kierra Neal also had 16 points as she was a very efficient six-of-eight on shot attempts.

THE ESSENTIALS

Final Score: University of the Virgin Islands def. Huston-Tillotson, 68-67

Records: UVI Women's 4-1; Huston-Tillotson 1-3

Location: UVI Sports & Fitness Center; St. Thomas, V.I.

Date: November 5, 2021

Event: Day 3 of the Inaugural UVI HBCU Basketball Classic, which features 12 games over the course of three days.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Huston-Tillotson missed its final 10 field goals of the game. While trailing 66-64, the Rams attempted five shots thanks to four offensive rebounds but were unable to put any of those looks through the net.

• There were 15 lead changes in this game, none more important than the final one. With UVI down 62-61, Neal recovered a defensive rebound after Huston-Tillotson missed a pair of free throws. Then on the offensive end, Neal hit a spin move, showed off some skillful footwork, and hit a tough jumper over her defender. 

• The three free throws Melea Lovelace made with under three minutes to play looms large over this game. Making her second appearance and the first start of the season, Lovelace calmly and cooly converted her free throws to extend the Buccaneers' lead to 66-62. For the fourth quarter, the Buccaneers were 13-of-16 from the line and the Rams were three-of-six.

• To close out the third quarter, Kaya Evans assisted on an Appiah-Kubi layup and three before Huston-Tillotson countered with a three for the final bucket of the period.

• Appiah-Kubi wasted no time making her presence known, helping UVI jump out to a 12-0 lead. She made two threes during the run, including the game's first basket, and assisted on two field goals, plus a steal. Huston-Tillotson recovered with a 10-4 run in the first quarter and then outscored the Buccaneers, 16-11, in the second frame. At halftime, UVI led 33-28.

STAT FACTS

• Lovelace had 14 points on three-of-six shooting, including three long-range buckets. She added six rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks.

• Berry had seven points, seven rebounds, three blocks, and two steals. Mia Davis added seven boards and six points. Evans led the bench unit with seven points, four assists, and two steals.

• Huston-Tillotson's 39 offensive rebounds and the 36 turnovers by UVI led to the Rams taking 54 more shots than the Buccaneers. However, the Rams shot just 26 percent (25-of-97) from the field and an even worse 7-of-38 (18.4 percent) from long range. That also led to Huston-Tillotson having a 28-11 advantage in points off turnovers and a 26-6 edge in second-chance points.

• Ilana Sanford led the Rams with 17 points, eight boards, eight assists, and five steals.

UP NEXT

• The Buccaneers undertake a three-game-in-three-days road trip, featuring consecutive matchups at Wilberforce on November 18 and November 19 and a trip to Central State on November 20.