Cangrejeras stay alive in BSNF semifinals

Shae Kelley once again led the Cangrejeras, scoring 21 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Cangrejeras of Santurce defeated the Atenienses of Manatí 72-65 on Wednesday night to avoid elimination in Game 3 of the Women’s Superior National Basketball League (BSNF by its initials in Spanish) semifinal A series.

With the victory at Roger Mendoza Coliseum in Caguas, the reigning champions forced a fourth game, which will be played this Friday at Juan Aubín Cruz Abreu Coliseum in Manatí, starting at 8 p.m. The Atenienses need one more win to advance to the league finals, while Santurce will look to extend the semifinal series to the five-game maximum.

Manatí got out to an early lead as consecutive baskets by Pamela Rosado and Chelsea Mitchell put the Atenienses up 15-12 at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, a three-pointer by India Pagán extended the lead to 28-18, but the Cangrejeras responded with a 13-0 run capped by Becca Tobin to take a 31-28 lead. Santurce led at halftime, 33-31.

In the third quarter, Santurce used a stifling defense to extend the lead to double digits. A jump shot by Tobin put the Cangrejeras ahead 47-33 lead with 6:13 remaining, but Atenienses narrowed the advantage to 53-47 by the end of the period.

Manatí drew closer in the fourth quarter as Rosado scored to cut the difference to just two points, 59-57, with 5:43 left, but Shae Kelley responded with back-to-back baskets that restored Santurce’s six-point lead. Then, a three-pointer by Brianna Jones all but sealed the victory, putting the Cangrejeras up 68-61 with just over a minute remaining.

Kelley was once again the key player for the Cangrejeras with 21 points and 13 rebounds, supported by Jones with 18 points and Kamaria McDaniel with 14. For Manatí, Rosado led the way with 17 points, followed by Kaela Hilaire with 16 points, Pagán with 11 and Mitchell with 10.

In the other semifinal, the Explosivas of Moca looked to close out the series against the Pollitas of Isabela on Thursday at 8 p.m. in Game 4 at José “Buga” Abreu Coliseum in Isabela.