Lady Buccaneers Prepare for First Round of HBCUAC Tournament
ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands, February 24, 2025 – The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Lady Buccaneers have concluded their regular season and are now preparing for the 2025 Historically Black College and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Hope Credit Union Basketball Tournament, which takes place at the Birthright Alumni Hall on the Campus of Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama from February 25 to March 2.
UVI (2-15, HBCUAC 2-16) has secured the No. 13 seed in the tournament and will face off against the fourth-ranked Philander Smith University Lady Panthers in the opening round. This will mark the third meeting between the two teams this season, with both previous encounters resulting in losses for the Lady Buccaneers.
In the first matchup, UVI suffered a 64-50 defeat on the road against the Lady Panthers. Senior forward Kashay Bass led the Lady Buccaneers with an impressive performance, contributing 16 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, and a steal.
The rematch at the Elridge Blake Sports Fitness Center ended in a 49-37 loss for UVI as the game slipped away in the second half. Sophomore guard Ashukamay'ah Phillips led the team in scoring with 16 points.
The Lady Buccaneers enter the tournament upset-minded after closing out the regular season with a 67-60 victory on their home floor stunning the visiting Wiley University Wildcats who are ranked sixth in the conference. The team will turn to Phillips and senior guard Maliah LaCour, who is coming off a 27-point outing to lead the team offensively and keep their season alive, while Bass who is HBCUAC All-Defensive team hopeful, will anchor the team defensively.
UVI and Philander Smith will tip off at 12 p.m. CST on February 25. This game and all other 2025 HBCUAC Hope Credit Union Basketball Tournament games can be streamed via www.urbanedgenetworks.com and the UEN app.
Photo Credit: Touch ah Button Studio and Photo Services
