Caguas, Isabela & Manatí are a win away from BSNF semis
By THE STAR STAFF
The Pollitas of Isabela, Criollas of Caguas and Atenienses of Manatí won their respective quarterfinal games in the Women’s Superior National Basketball (BSNF by its initials in Spanish) league on Tuesday night.
In Ponce, the Pollitas eked out a hard-fought 72-70 win over the Leonas at Juan “Pachín” Vicens Auditorium to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five quarterfinal Series A.
In a final quarter that began with the Leonas leading 53-51 lead, the intensity peaked during the final two minutes. Micah Gray scored a crucial basket to put Ponce ahead 67-66, but on the next possession the Pollitas’ Jaliena Sánchez found Emily Kiser under the basket to reclaim the lead, 68-67.
Isabela extended the lead to three points with 49 seconds left on a pair of free throws by Quionche “Che” Carter, who was fouled on a shot attempt in the lane.
Seconds later, Gray hit a three pointer from the top of the arc to tie the score at 70.
The Pollitas again put the ball in the hands of Carter, who drove into the paint off a screen and hit a short-range jumper to put Isabela back in front, 72-70, with just 15 seconds on the clock.
After a timeout called by Ponce, Ariel Colón took charge of the offense and attacked the basket, attempting a left-handed floater that missed the mark. She grabbed the offensive rebound herself, earning a second chance to tie the game, but her shot missed once again. The Pollitas secured the defensive rebound, and after inbounding the ball, ran out the remaining seconds to seal the road win.
The Pollitas will look to close out the series tonight at home.
In Moca, meanwhile, the Criollas defeated the host Explosivas 78-72 at Dr. Juan Sánchez Acevedo Arena to go up 2-0 in their quarterfinal Series D.
The Criollas led by six points late in the fourth quarter, but the defending BSNF champions had other ideas.
With 1:22 remaining in the game and Moca ratcheting up the defensive pressure, Cierra Burdick scored off an offensive rebound to narrow the gap to 74-70. A pair of free throws by Leigha Brown with 40 seconds left made it 74-72.
Following a Caguas timeout and with 34 seconds showing on the clock, the Criollas’ Dre’Una Edwards drove to the basket but missed the shot, giving the Explosivas a chance to tie or take the lead. But Moca was unable to convert on a pair of possessions down the stretch as Caguas sealed the six-point victory with free throws by Katie Villarini and Taylor Robertson.
Tea Cooper led the Criollas’ offense with 26 points and six assists, while Brown paced the Explosivas with 20 points and five rebounds.
Tonight’s Game 3 in Caguas will be do or die for Moca.
In Juana Díaz, the Atenienses moved closer to reaching the semifinals with an 88-71 road victory over the Monarcas at Dolores “Toyita” Martínez Coliseum.
Oderah Chidom and Chelsea Mitchell combined for 45 of Manatí’s 88 points, netting 24 and 21, respectively. Kaela Hilaire added 15 points and 10 assists.
As a team, Manatí held a 42-38 advantage in points scored in the paint -- a notable statistic given the inside defensive presence of Juana Díaz import Imani McGee.
McGee led the Monarcas with 21 points and 20 rebounds, followed by Tess Amundsen and Manuela Ríos, who scored 18 points each. All of Juana Díaz’s points were scored by their five starters.
The Atenienses will look to close out quarterfinal Series C tonight at home.
