BRIDGETOWN, CANA:
JAMAICA avenged their 1998 defeat in the finals when they beat archrivals the Bahamas 77-71 in the second women's match on the opening day of the 2000 CARICOM basketball championships at the Sir Garfield Sobers Gymnasium yesterday.
Jamaica were able to turn the tables on the defending champions, who had beaten them in the women's championship match in Belize, two years ago.
This time around, the Reggae girls scored a morale-boosting six-point victory after being ahead 38-35 at half-time.
After a slow start, Jamaica, who dominated on the boards but could not find the basket, settled into their rhythm and clawed their way back from an early six-point deficit at 4-10.
This was primarily through the inside play of forward Andrea Watson, who ended with a game-high 24 points.
Fortunes fluctuated throughout the game with no team having a lead bigger than five though Jamaica were able to fight off the constant runs made by their opponents.
The Bahamas tied the scored at 51 and again at 68 but never went ahead as Watson and forward Pitterson responded well and came up with crucial baskets in clutch time.
At the end, free throw shooting determined the outcome as Jamaica missed just five by scoring 12 of 17 from the line while the Bahamas missed a woeful 14, landing only 18 of their 32 free throws.
Pitterson finished with 17 points and eight rebounds while Barbara carter also got 17 for the Jamaicans while Anthazia Sands was the Bahamas' most productive player with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Ann Bullars and Kim Rolle contributed 10 points each.
