Lady Bucs’ Slow Start Costly in Loss to Tougaloo
Jackson, Mississippi, January 21, 2025 – In the final game of their three-game road trip, the University of the Virgin Islands Lady Buccaneers fell to Tougaloo College 58-82. The game, held on Monday evening at the Kroger Gymnasium in Jackson, Mississippi, left the Lady Buccaneers searching for answers after a slow start proved costly, despite a spirited second-half performance.
From the opening tip, the UVI (0-12, 0-11 HBCUAC) struggled to match the intensity of Tougaloo, leading to a significant halftime deficit (45-24). The Lady Buccaneers rallied but could not overturn the early advantage built by the Lady Bulldogs.
Top performers for the Buccaneers included Maliah LaCour, who recorded 18 points and continued her streak of double-digit scoring performances, and Kashay Bass, who contributed 14 points along with six rebounds, two blocks, and two steals on the defensive end of the floor.
Head coach Stephanie Cooper expressed mixed emotions about the team's performance, highlighting the initial setbacks. "We got off to a slow start, and that hindered us. We were able to close the gap through our defensive efforts, but we were just unable to recover. This team has a lot of fight in them, they play until the final minutes, and that's all I can ask for when things are not going our way," said Cooper.
The Lady Buccaneers now have a ten-day break before returning to the floor against Southern University at New Orleans on January 30. The game will take place at the Castle in New Orleans, Louisiana, which will mark the team's 11th road game of the season.
