Barbados skipper, Wing Attack, Damisha Croney, says her Barbados Gems are still in good spirits despite a 78-25 drubbing at the hands of former World Champions New Zealand.
New Zealand started quickly, leading 16-9 in the first quarter, before dominating the second to go into the half leading 42-14. The Gems would not recover, as the Silver Ferns pressed home their advantage in the second half, scoring 19 points in the third quarter to ensure the result going into the final quarter. Already leading, 61-20, they would slow ever so slightly, scoring 17 goals to the Gems’ six.
The Gems skipper took heart in the way the Caribbean side started the game, but admitted the Silver Ferns were too fast and too strong for her team.
“We didn't take the W today. It was a challenging game as expected going up against a team in the top 5 in the World who are also past World Champions,” said Croney.
“We started well in the first quarter, which ended 9-16 in their favour. The speed posed a challenge for us as the game progressed but I am very pleased with the great passages of plays that the team presented,” she said.
While the game was a lost cause for the Gems, the team did get a glorious chance to look at what works and what doesn’t against World-Class opposition.
“We were able to work on new combinations and get all 12 players on court,” said Croney.
For Babrados, Latonia Blackman had 3-4 from goal shoot, while Brianna Holder had four goals from six attempts.
Shonica Wharton, despite coming out on the losing end of affairs, had a good time in the circle, scoring 14 goals from just 16 attempts, while Sheniqua Thomas took six shots, sinking four.
The four were up against the powerful shooting of Maria Falou, 21 from 24, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, 20 from 22, and the impressive Bailey Mes, 30 from 33. Ameliaranne Ekenasio scored seven goals from her eight attempts.