Lady Buccaneers End Season in the First Round of the HBCUAC Tournament

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama, February 25, 2025 – The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Lady Buccaneers fell short in a 70-59 loss to Philander Smith University in the opening round of the 2025 Hope Credit Union Basketball Championships hosted by the Historically Black College and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC). Unfortunately, this loss in the single-elimination tournament marked the end of the Lady Buccaneers' season and their championship hopes.

"Tournament play demands a higher level of performance, particularly in terms of defense and minimizing turnovers" emphasized head coach Stephanie Cooper. "Unfortunately, we fell short in both aspects today, and the early foul trouble that we got into didn't help either. While we did have some good moments, it was not enough to get the results we wanted in this game." 

The game that took place at the Birthright Alumni Hall on the campus of Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama saw the Lady Buccaneers fall behind early in the game, as Philander Smith took control, establishing a lead that would prove difficult for the Lady Buccaneers to overcome. By halftime, the Lady Panthers had built a 38-25 lead.

In the second half, the Lady Buccaneers would struggle early on but it was the untimely turnovers that would hamper the team as their opponents were able to extend their lead to as many as 22 points. Despite the sluggish start, UVI showed resilience in its efforts to narrow the gap. Senior guard Maliah LaCour delivered an impressive second-half performance, scoring 16 of her 19 points after the break. LaCour's efficient shooting, going 5-for-9 from the field, 1-for-1 from three-point range, and 5-for-5 from the free-throw line, helped fuel the Lady Buccaneers' comeback attempt. However, Philander Smith maintained their lead and ultimately secured the victory.

Senior forward Kashay Bass displayed her versatility with 14 points, eight rebounds, and two assists, contributing significantly to the Lady Buccaneers' efforts. Additionally, sophomore guard Ashukamay'ah Phillips added 15 points to the team's final game of the season.

"We faced a lot of obstacles early this season," said Cooper. "However, the team grew together and matured as the season went on. We concluded the regular season with a significant victory and had players receive conference awards in the final week. This positive momentum will carry us into the next season. Now that the foundation of Lady Buccaneer basketball has been laid, I'm excited to see how we can build on it with the incoming recruiting class we have coming in."