Caguas hands first-place Isabela its first loss in 10 games
2nd-place Manatí gains ground in final week of BSNF regular season
By THE STAR STAFF
The Criollas of Caguas, Explosivas of Moca, Monarcas of Juana Díaz and Atenienses of Manatí were winners on Tuesday night in a full slate of Women’s Superior National Basketball (BSNF by its initials in Spanish) games.
In Isabela, the Criollas defeated the Pollitas of Isabela 88-84 at José “Buga” Abreu Coliseum, ending the hosts’ impressive nine-game winning streak.
Despite concluding its regular season with a loss, Isabela (14-4) remained in first place overall, while Caguas (12-5) solidified its hold on third place with one game still left to play.
The Criollas dominated the first half, in which they led by as many as 21 points, but the Pollitas launched a comeback with a 14-2 run late in the third quarter and kept the pressure on, eventually tying the game at 74-74 with 6:50 remaining in the final period. With the score at 79-75 in favor of Caguas with 4:31 left on the clock, the Criollas’ Taylor Robertson sank a three-pointer that momentarily silenced the home crowd and extended the visitors’ lead to seven points. Isabela’s Camille Zimmerman responded with a free throw, but Katie Villarini immediately attacked the basket, scoring a layup that extended the Criollas’ lead once again to 84-76. Isabela’s Quionche “Che” Carter then answered with a three-pointer, narrowing the gap to five points at 84-79.
After a pair of forced turnovers failed to produce points for Isabela, with 2:03 remaining on the clock Zimmerman found Emily Kiser cutting toward the basket. Kiser converted the layup to make it 84-81.
With just 35 seconds left to play, national team player Denise Solís grabbed an offensive rebound and scored, extending Caguas’ lead to 86-81 and prompting a timeout from Isabela head coach Rafa Muñiz. Following the break, the Pollitas executed a set play in which Carter came off a screen and drained a spectacular three-pointer, bringing the home team within two, 86-84.
On the ensuing possession, Solís missed a shot, but Dre Una Edwards scored off an offensive rebound to give the Criollas the four-point victory after Isabela missed three-straight shot attempts as time ran out.
Robertson led Caguas with 26 points, followed by Edwards and Solís with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Kiser led Isabela with 21 points, Carter and Zimmerman scored 21 and 19 points, respectively.
Elsewhere, the visiting Atenienses defeated the Ganaderas of Hatillo, 75-66. With five players scoring in double figures, Manatí improved to 13-4 and held firm in second place in the standings.
Trailing by eight points at halftime, Manatí completely shifted the momentum over the final 20 minutes by ramping up their defensive intensity, limiting last-place Hatillo to just 27 points in the second half (nine points in the fourth quarter) en route to a nine-point victory.
Chelsea Mitchell once again led Manatí’s balanced attack with 21 points and nine rebounds. Rookie Abeliz Rodríguez contributed 13 points and nine rebounds. Dontavia Waggoner led Hatillo (3-14) with 26 points and 15 rebounds.
In Moca, the Explosivas routed the Leonas of Ponce 99-60 at Dr. Juan Sánchez Acevedo Coliseum to put the two teams in a tie for seventh place with identical 6-10 records.
Caroline Ducharme and Hillary Martínez led the Explosivas’ attack, combining for 46 points, and newcomer Cierra Burdick added a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds (plus six assists). Micah Gray scored 12 points for Ponce.
The two teams are set to face each other again in their final regular-season game on Friday, this time in Ponce.
The Explosivas’ victory also resulted in the elimination of both Hatillo and the ninth-place Cariduras of Fajardo.
In Juana Díaz, meanwhile, the Monarcas emerged victorious, 80-77, over the Gigantes of Carolina.
Bolstered by a combined 73 points from three of their key players, the Monarcas improved to 8-10 and moved into sixth place in the standings. Imani McGee once again dominated the paint with 31 points and 17 rebounds. Point guard Manuela Ríos had a double-double with 22 points and 11 assists, along with seven rebounds, while Tess Amundsen contributed another 20 points and eight rebounds.
Four Gigantes scored in double digits, led by newcomer Lasha Petree with 23 points and Joyner Holmes with 17 as Carolina lost its third-straight game to end the regular season at 11-7.
This week’s remaining games: Tonight at 7 p.m., Caguas at Moca, Fajardo at Hatillo, Manatí at Ponce. Friday at 6 p.m., Moca at Ponce.
