The New Providence Women's Basketball Association (NPWBA) got its regular season underway over the weekend at the D.W. Davis Gymnasium with a double-header, highlighted by a grudge match between last year's championship opponents, the Johnson's Lady Truckers and the Super Value Cybot Queens.
In the marquee match-up, the Truckers managed to pull out a 55-53 win, starting the season on a high note for them. Shantell Rolle led the way for the Truckers with 18 points on 5-for-10 shooting from the field and 6-for-10 shooting from free throw line. She also had seven assists, three rebounds and two steals. Latoya Rolle had a double-double of 14 points and 15 rebounds and Glenda Gilcud came off the bench to add 12 for the Lady Truckers.
Tracy Lewis led the Cybot Queens with 12 points. Celeste Pyfrom and Taneil Poitier had eight points apiece. The Lady Truckers managed to hold on despite shooting just 6-for-24 from behind the three-point line. Despite the poor shooting from behind the three-point arc, they made the most of their opportunities at the foul line, making 15 shots from the charity stripe in the game.
The Lady Truckers out-rebounded the Cybot Queens 46-43 and committed just 10 fouls compared to 19 by the Cybot Queens. With her team down two with two seconds left in the game, Tiffany Wildgoose took a final shot for the Cybot Queens but failed to convert. Nayaka Dean came up with the rebound as time expired.
The Truckers held a 24-23 lead at the half. The Cybot Queens took on the Englerston Elites last night but the result of that game was unavailable up to press time. The Lady Truckers will take on the Bommer G. Operators on Wednesday. In the opener on Saturday, the Operators made quick work of the Career Builders Cheetahs, knocking them off 64-34.
Philicia Kelly, now playing with the Operators, led the way for them with a game-high 19 points. She added four rebounds and four assists. They got a huge spark from their bench as Chrishanda Rahming put up 17 points and five rebounds and Ruthann Simms added 10 points and eight boards. Shelly Australe led the Cheetahs with 14 points and nine rebounds.
The Operators shot an efficient 50 percent from the floor compared to just 24 percent for the Cheetahs. The Operators also forced the Cheetahs to commit 22 turnovers that they turned into 18 points. They also imposed their will in the paint, out-rebounding the Cheetahs 38-28, and out-scoring them 18-12 in the paint.
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