MEDELLIN (Colombia) – Indeportes Antioquia recorded their second consecutive crown in the Women's Basketball League Americas, after defeating Bay Area Phoenix 61-53 at the Coliseo Iván de Bedout in Medellín, Colombia on Saturday night.
The two teams were evenly matched with Indeportes having the slight advantage after the first quarter, as they led 21-17 thanks to the efforts of Mayra Caicedo and Jennifer Muñoz, while Rebecca Harris once again led the Phoenix in scoring with eight first quarter points with Kamilah Jackson adding to the tally. The Phoenix controlled the game on the glass thanks to Mo Bennett, but Indeportes kept the Phoenix to just 20 per cent shooting as they played intense defence and kept the Phoenix from getting any lead until the beginning of the second quarter thanks to Harris and Mariah Cooks. However, even the slight Phoenix lead was quickly taken back by Indeportes as Muñoz hit a jumper before Harris responded with one of her own. But Yuliany Paz added a layup before Muñoz sank a three-pointer that would give Indeportes the lead until the end of the game. Indeportes held the Phoenix to just nine points in the second quarter, and a final three pointer from Mabel Martinez gave Indeportes an eight-point lead at the half. Muñoz opened the scoring in the third quarter, but a 7-0 run from the Phoenix suddenly made the game a two-point match, and Phoenix found their offensive rhythm once again as Jazmine Jackson hit a three-pointer, tallying six fourth-quarter points, adding to the triple Doris Jones recorded just one minute earlier. Daihana Murillo hit a buzzer-beater jump shot to end the third quarter and give Indeportes a three-point cushion as they led 46-43, but the Phoenix proved they had fight in them as the game went to the final frame. Muñoz and Harris went back and forth grabbing baskets as the score was 50-49 Indeportes with just over five minutes left to play, but a 7-0 run with Carolina Lopez adding six of those points gave Indeportes an eight-point lead before their run was finally stopped by Harris hitting two free throws.
The Phoenix's only other points were added by Harris down by eight with 13 seconds left to play, and the Bay Area team would take home silver in their first ever WBLA campaign. Muñoz and Lopez each recorded 15 points for Indeportes in their victory, Martinez added nine points, and Paz grabbed 11 rebounds as they lifted a second straight trophy in the competition. Harris led all players from the Phoenix with 25 points, while Kamilah Jackson and Jazmine Jackson added eight points each. Bennett tallied 18 rebounds including 12 defensively in the loss.
FIBA