Santurce defeats Carolina to stay alive in BSNF quarterfinals
By THE STAR STAFF
The Cangrejeras of Santurce defeated the Gigantes of Carolina 80-66 on Wednesday night in Game 3 of the Women’s Superior National Basketball (BSNF by its initials in Spanish) league quarterfinal Series B, held at the Guillermo Angulo Coliseum in Carolina.
The Gigantes entered the game with a 2-0 series lead and a chance to clinch a spot in the semifinals in front of their home crowd, but Santurce was determined to keep their postseason hopes alive. Although the Gigantes led early, the Cangrejeras managed to shift the momentum through a combination of defensive adjustments, more aggression on offense, and strong team play to narrow the series deficit to 2-1.
The turning point of the game arrived in the third quarter, when Santurce went on a 12-2 run to build a double-digit lead.
The Cangrejeras defenders doubled down on Carolina’s double threat of Joyner Holmes and Grace Berger, and another significant factor in the game was the disparity in free-throw opportunities: Santurce earned 30 attempts compared to just eight for the Gigantes. This combination of factors enabled the Cangrejeras to put Carolina in an 11-point hole going into the final 10 minutes.
The intensity ramped up in the fourth quarter as the Gigantes sought to close the gap over several consecutive possessions. After Santurce extended their lead to 65-51, Carolina responded with four unanswered points, prompting the visitors to call a timeout.
With 3:05 remaining, Tayra Meléndez made a free throw to bring the home team within 67-56, but the Cangrejeras’ Kiara Leslie responded from the charity stripe with her first two points of the night. Shortly after, Aubryanna “Bree” Hall hit a three-pointer with 1:59 left, extending the lead to 72-56.
The Gigantes answered with a three-pointer from Meléndez, followed by a defensive stop by Charity Harris that led to a layup by Holmes. Carolina kept the pressure on, and after a turnover by Santurce, Meléndez drove to the basket once again, narrowing the gap to 72-63 and keeping hopes of a late-game comeback alive.
But the Cangrejeras wouldn’t allow it. Leah Scott made a free throw and subsequently hit a crucial three-pointer to make the score 76-63. Although Glennys Rosa immediately answered with a long-range shot of her own, pulling Carolina back to within 10 points, with just 30 seconds left Santurce’s Brianna Jones was on the receiving end of a hard personal foul, which the officials reviewed and upgraded to unsportsmanlike. Jones sank both free throws, extending the lead to 78-66.
The Cangrejeras’ Alanis Ventura and Alicia Penzo each added a free throw for the final margin of victory as Santurce avoided elimination.
Hall was the standout offensive performer for Santurce with 26 points and 10 rebounds, spearheading an attack that saw four players score in double figures.
Meléndez led Carolina with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
The series continues on Friday night at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in Hato Rey.
