Lady Buccaneers Overcome First-Half Deficit to Stun Wiley on Senior Night

ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands, February 20, 2025 – The University of the Virgin Islands Lady Buccaneers emerged victorious in a Historically Black College and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) game against Wiley University after overcoming a double-digit first-half deficit to stun the Wildcats 67-60 on the team's Senior Night at the Elridge Blake Sports and Fitness Center on Wednesday evening.

The Lady Buccaneers were led by senior guard Maliah LaCour, who scored a season-high 27 points in a dominant performance on her senior night. LaCour shot 9-for-15 from the field and coupled 12 rebounds with her 27 points, giving her the second double-double of the season. The Dallas, Texas native scored 10 of her 27 points in a single period as the Lady Buccaneers mounted their monumental comeback.

Early in the game, the Lady Buccaneers found themselves trailing by as many as 17 points in the first half in what seemed like it would be a runaway victory for the Wildcats. However, the Lady Buccaneers were determined to keep the game competitive as they closed the gap slowly. By halftime, the score was 35-24 in favor of Wiley, but the spirit of the Lady Buccaneers was far from broken.

The third quarter marked a turning point as the Lady Buccaneers mounted a thunderous comeback. The team scored 13 unanswered points to open the half. The shift in momentum was fueled by a stellar performance from junior Ashukamay'ah Phillips, who scored nine points in two minutes during her team's run, including the made free throw that tied the game at 35-all at the 7:55 mark. On the very next possession, senior forward Kashay Bass would deliver two timely free throws to give the Lady Buccaneers their first lead since the early stages of the ball game.

The teams battled throughout the fourth quarter as they traded baskets with neither team able to establish dominance. However, the Lady Buccaneers created just enough of a lead to edge out their opponents and secure their first victory of the season. Phillips finished with 21 points while Bass had a career-high 20-rebound performance. Bass also added 11 points, recording her first double-double of the season.

Head coach Stephanie Cooper praised the team's effort and the electric atmosphere contributed by the supportive crowd. "This was a solid game from start to finish; everyone played their role today, including the crowd. It was a great atmosphere there, and the players fed off the crowd's energy," said Cooper. She highlighted the performance of LaCour, saying, "That's how you go out on Senior Night!" and commended Phillips for her exceptional contributions, stating her expectations for her to continue performing at a high level.

Looking ahead, the Lady Buccaneers will next face opponents in the HBCUAC Conference Tournament starting February 25, 2025, at the Birthright Alumni Hall in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Lady Buccaneers aim to carry their momentum into the tournament, seeking to replicate their exceptional performance and upset the teams that may underestimate them heading into the postseason.