T&T fell to Mexico 65-78 in the bronze medal match of the 2010 Women's Centrobasket Championships at Palacio de los Deportes in Mayag�ez, Puerto Rico last night. As a result of the defeat, the twin island women failed in their bid to qualify for the final spot of the 2011 FIBA-Americas Championship for Women (Pre-Olympic). While Mexico committed seven more turnovers than its opponents (19-26), the Central Americans scored 24 points off turnovers compared to eight by T&T. They also shot a higher percentage from the floor and beyond the arc hitting 30/61 and 10/20, while T&T went 21/69 and 7/25.
The women from the land of soca had a poor first quarter scoring just 2/14 from the field, but finished the period down by just six, 12-18, due to 7/8 shooting from the free throw line. The second period saw the twin island women finding more offence, as they eventually took the lead and were ahead 35-40 with 1.31, however their opponents ended the quarter with a 10-1 run to hold a 36-40 advantage at the half. Things fell down in the third for T&T as Mexico started the period with a 4-0 run, before increasing its lead to 12, 41-53 with 5.59 left in the quarter. While the Caribbean side scored eight points in the period thereafter, it was unable to cut the lead as Mexico added nine of its own to push the lead to 13, 49-62.
T&T tried for all its worth to get back into the match, however its poor shooting did not help despite Mexico having a number of turnovers.
Mexico eventually reached 52-73 4.18 left, the 21-point lead being the biggest of the encounter. It was eventually cut to 13, but by that time the match was all over, as the Central Americans claimed their second bronze at the championships. Despite failing to medal, this was T&T's best finish at the championships, with the previous best being fifth place at the 2008 edition. Erika Gomez Lozada had 19 and Abril Selene Garcia 16 to lead Mexico, while Rhea Codio had a game-high 23 in a losing cause for T&T, with Jonee` Billy adding 13.
