A GAME-HIGH 24 points and 11 rebounds from Mariam McKenzie was not enough to save Guyana from falling 52–73 to host Suriname in their second game at the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Women’s Caribbean Championship in Paramaribo, on Monday.

Guyana had opened their campaign in the tournament with a heavy loss (39–78) to Barbados, and were hoping to rebound against rivals Suriname.
The team (Guyana) suffered a set-back when point guard Jada Mohan was advised by doctors in Suriname not to play after being treated for a complaint of being dizzy, following the Barbados encounter.

Mohan’s absence placed some pressure on McKenzie to carry the ladies from the ‘Land of Many Waters’ on her shoulders, and that she did for much of the game.
Suriname raced to a 22 – 16 lead at the end of the first period, but Guyana, powered by McKenzie, bounced back in the second period to outscore the host country 11 – 4, to close the half with a one point lead (27 – 26).

In the third period, Suriname with Cyarah Kensmil leading their charge dropped the Guyanese women 25 – 15, and raced to 51 – 42 points lead heading into the final stanza.
Kensmil, who posted 22 points in Suriname’s win, was too much for the young Guyanese bunch. McKenzie tried as much as she could, but the work-load was too much for the point guard to carry alone.

Kennesha Leacock contributed 13 points in the loss for Guyana, and also had five steals. For Suriname, Zephanya Zeefuik was their net best player, scoring 17 points and Marcella Sedoc contributed 10 points and seven steals.
Guyana played their final group stage game against the undefeated Dominican Republic last evening.