The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE women's national basketball team suffered its second straight loss at the Centro Basket, this time falling 74-52 to Mexico at the Coliseo Juan Aubin Cruz Auditorium in Puerto Rico.

Coming off their 95-50 loss to Puerto Rico in their opening game on Monday, coach Wayde Watson saw his front court come through big inside to help keep the Bahamas in the game.

Leashia Grant once again was the offensive spark, scoring a game high 19 points in 29 minutes and 40 seconds. She was 7-for-25 from the field, 2-for-3 from the three-point line and 3-for-4 from the free throw line. Grant also pulled down 15 rebounds and came up with six steals.

Sha-Londa Neely scored 10 points with eight rebounds, two block shots, two steals and as many assists, while Mavia Dean came off the bench with 10 points as well and seven rebounds.

Tracy Lewis was the only other player making any significant contribution with nine points. Although she only scored two points, Ashley Moss also came off the bench and pulled down five rebounds and blocked three shots.

Rebounds

Mexico, who remain undefeated after winning their opener 77-42 over Costa Rica on Monday, had four players in double figures with Jacqueline Luna coming off the bench with 18 points, four rebounds and three blocks in 35.04 minutes.

After getting on the scoreboard first on a jumper from Lewis in the first two minutes, the Bahamas fell behind 10-4 in the last four minutes in the period.

Mexico, however, went on to outscore the Bahamas 10-4, to post a 20-8 advantage at the end of the first break.

Like they did in the first quarter, the Bahamas opened the second quarter with a jumper from Neely for a 20-12 deficit.

After a scoring drought by both teams, Grant came through with a lay-up at 5:58 for 22-14. Mexico opened the game up 25-14 on a three-pointer from Claudia Ramos.

Grant canned a three-pointer with 57 seconds for a 32-23 deficit and with one second left, scored on another to trim Mexico's lead to 34-26 at the half.

Unlike the first half, Mexico scored first to start the third. But the Bahamas rallied on Neely's lay-up, Grant's three-pointer and jumper, a basket and free throw from Lewis and a jumper from Joette Fernander for a 38-33 deficit in the first five minutes.

Mexico, however, went on to outscore the Bahamas on a 16-4 spurt to push their lead out front again 54-37 to end the third quarter.

Dean scored on a lay-up in the first two minutes of the fourth as the Bahamas trailed 56-39.

The Bahamas didn't score again until 5:57 as Lewis converted a jumper on a steal for a 66-41 deficit.

After another drought, the Bahamas got on the scoreboard again on Moss' basket at 2:35 for a 70-43 deficit.

On an offensive rebound on a missed jumper from Lewis, Dean made a lay-up and a minute later, Dean scored on another lay-up as the Bahamas trailed 71-47.

The Bahamas got its final point with five seconds left as Grant grabbed an offensive rebound for the put back for the final margin. It came after Grant converted a pair of free throws just after she hit the first of two in the final minute.

The Bahamas will close out round robin play in Group B tonight against Costa Rica. Three teams make up Group A, including the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Cuba.

The top four teams will advance to the playoffs on Thursday. The final is set for Friday.