Gems, Calypso Girls strengthen World Cup qualifying bids with third straight wins
Key Points(5)
- Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago strengthened their claims to the two available places at next year’s Netball World Cup after maintaining their perfect records with contrasting victories in Wednesday’s Americas Netball World Cup Qualifiers.
- The Barbados Gems delivered a commanding 73-42 defeat of Grenada at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex, while Trinidad and Tobago’s Calypso Girls had to withstand a determined challenge from the United States before securing a hard-fought 43-38 win.
- Both teams extended their unbeaten runs to three matches, positioning themselves as the leading contenders for qualification as the tournament progresses.
- Gems pull away after competitive start Barbados transformed a relatively close opening period into a one-sided contest through a dominant second quarter that effectively settled the outcome.
- The Gems led 15-10 after the first 15 minutes before stepping up their scoring to establish a commanding 39-21 advantage at halftime.
Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago strengthened their claims to the two available places at next year’s Netball World Cup after maintaining their perfect records with contrasting victories in Wednesday’s Americas Netball World Cup Qualifiers.
The Barbados Gems delivered a commanding 73-42 defeat of Grenada at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex, while Trinidad and Tobago’s Calypso Girls had to withstand a determined challenge from the United States before securing a hard-fought 43-38 win.
Both teams extended their unbeaten runs to three matches, positioning themselves as the leading contenders for qualification as the tournament progresses.
Gems pull away after competitive start
Barbados transformed a relatively close opening period into a one-sided contest through a dominant second quarter that effectively settled the outcome.
The Gems led 15-10 after the first 15 minutes before stepping up their scoring to establish a commanding 39-21 advantage at halftime.
They continued to control the contest in the third quarter, stretching their lead to 56-32 before closing out a comfortable 31-goal victory.
Faye Agard spearheaded the Barbados attack, converting 46 of her 51 attempts. Shonica Wharton contributed 10 goals from 12 attempts, while Kadeen Corbin scored eight from nine.
Damia Walrond added four goals from six attempts, and Brianna Holder finished with three from five as the Gems spread their scoring across the attacking unit.
Grenada’s Lottysha Cato led her team with 18 goals from 20 attempts. Akada McSween contributed five from eight, while Tiffany Frederick added one from three.
Calypso Girls withstand USA pressure
Trinidad and Tobago faced a considerably tougher examination, with the Americans keeping the contest close throughout before the Calypso Girls secured the five-goal victory.
Neither side could establish an early advantage, and the teams finished the opening quarter locked at 8-8.
T&T gradually gained the upper hand in the second period, moving ahead 22-18 at halftime. They increased that four-goal cushion through the third quarter, entering the final 15 minutes with a 34-28 lead.
The USA continued to apply pressure, but the Calypso Girls held their nerve to protect their advantage and finish 43-38 winners.
Samantha Wallace-Joseph led the T&T scoring effort, converting 35 of her 40 attempts, while Kalifa McCollin added eight goals from nine attempts.
Oshina Graham carried much of the scoring responsibility for the Americans, making 34 of her 38 shots. Anya Graham contributed three goals from seven attempts, and Gabrielle Woods scored once from six attempts.
St. Lucia and St. Vincent also claim victories
Elsewhere, St. Lucia produced the most emphatic result of the day, overwhelming the British Virgin Islands 75-11.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines also enjoyed a successful outing, defeating Canada 51-41 to add another victory to the tournament's Wednesday schedule.
With Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago each recording a third consecutive win, both sides continued to build momentum in their pursuit of the two available places at next year's Netball World Cup.
