MAYAGUEZ, Puerto Rico, CMC – Jamaica’s see-sawed run in the women’s basketball campaign at the Central American and Caribbean Games continued on Thursday evening when they were whipped by hosts Puerto Rico. Entering the contest with two wins in three games, Jamaica were no match for the hosts as they crumbled 63-44 at the Arquelio Torres Ramírez Coliseum.
The loss was Jamaica’s second at the hands of Puerto Rico this month after they also succumbed during the recent CentroBasket.
Trinidad and Tobago were also losers, going under to Guatemala in a relatively close affair 76-81 in double overtime while tournament doormats St Vincent and the Grenadines lost heavily again, crushed 31-143 by Mexico.
Jamaica tried to keep pace with the home side who led the first two quarters 12-11, 26-25, and managed to level the scores at 35 at the end of the third period.
However, they were blown out of contention in the final quarter when Puerto Rico poured in 28 points to their meagre nine. Jamaica matched their opponents in the paint scoring the same 22 points inside but suffered from poor outside shooting, too many turnovers and allowed the hosts 18 fast break points.
