Bahamians Participate in March Madness

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UNITED STATES – Rhema Collins came up big in the clutch to help her Florida International University Panthers get a 76-73 win over Stetson in the first round of the Women’s NIT.

The Conference USA Player of the Year scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and, with her team down 3 at the end of regulation, she initiated a wild sequence, stealing an inbound pass and hitting an off-balance three-pointer to beat the buzzer and force overtime.

There she sank a couple of clutch free throws to help her team secure the win.

They’ll be back in action in the second round against Abilene Christian.

Coach Yolett McCuin and her 19th-seeded University of Mississippi Rebels beat 12-seed Gonzaga in their first-round NCAA Tournament matchup, taking them down 81-66.

The Rebels relied on a hellacious defensive effort, holding the Zags to 37% shooting, not allowing a score until 5 minutes were left in the first half. They also forced 21 turnovers and blocked 8 shots, a record for the team in an NCAA Tournament game.

Latasha Lattimore led the team in scoring with 15 off the bench. The team’s leading regular season scorer, Cotie McMahon, had 13 as well, setting the program record for double-digit games in a season with 33.

Sira Theinou led the defensive charge, blocking four shots and grabbing three steals.

They’re on to the second round, where they’ll play Minnesota on their home court tomorrow afternoon.

MLB Baseball

Jazz Chisholm hit a double in his Yankees’ 3-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles.

Luis Gil got the win on the mound.

Their season starts Wednesday against the San Francisco Giants.

Coach Antoan Richardson and his Atlanta Braves beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-1.

Austin Riley hit a home run, and they gave a slight glimpse into Coach Richardson’s highly touted base-stealing strategy that they’ll employ… this with Jorge Mateo swiping two bags and Cal Conley stealing one more.

Their season starts next Friday against the Kansas City Royals.