The University of the Virgin Islands women’s basketball team found itself on the wrong side of an overtime thriller against Virgin Islands Elite Women on Friday night at Elridge W. Blake Sports and Fitness Center. With regulation not being enough, an extra five-minute period was needed to decide the result in a 78-74 loss for the Lady Buccaneers.

UVI got off to a hot start in the first period of the game, shooting 40% from the field and 40% from behind the arc. A three-point shot at the buzzer by junior guard Atalia Thomas gave the Lady Buccaneers a commanding 23-11 lead at the end of the quarter.

The Lady Buccaneers would take their foot off the gas slightly in the second quarter, allowing VI Elite to close the gap, but would keep them at bay, taking a nine-point advantage into half, 38-29.

The third quarter saw defensive struggles for UVI, resulting in a 14-2 run by VI Elite, who would take the lead

48-46 late in the period.

The Lady Buccaneers responded resiliently, battling from behind until junior forward Natalie Williams reclaimed the lead with a jump shot in the fourth quarter, making it 55-54. The teams exchanged baskets for the remainder of the period, with neither side able to assert dominance. With under 30 seconds left and the score tied at 69, both teams made attempts to clinch the game in regulation, but neither succeeded.

In Overtime, the Lady Buccaneers’ Offense would stall, shooting woes would allow VI Elite to cling to a four-point lead and escape with a 78-74 win.

“We took the game into overtime, which is a testament to our defense and offense,” said head coach Stephanie Cooper. “We just have to remember to stay focused for the entire 40 minutes. We had some possessions with crucial turnovers, which ultimately cost us the game, and the numbers worked in their favor late in the game.”

Junior forward Keshara Romain achieved her third consecutive double-double this season, scoring 18 points and adding 12 rebounds. Romain has now recorded a double-double in three of the five contests for the Lady Buccaneers this season. The 5-foot-11 forward also contributed three steals and two assists.

Junior forward Natalie Williams also recorded a double-double, with 14 points and 10 rebounds, marking her second of the season.

The Lady Buccaneers will now travel to Austin, Texas, for their upcoming games. They will face Jarvis Christian University on Friday, November 7, followed by the opening of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) schedule against the Stillman College Lady Tigers on November 8. Both games will be held at a neutral site during the Tiffany Jackson HBCU Classic at Branch Gymnasium, located on the campus of Hutson-Tillotson University.