By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER a four-year hiatus, the New Providence Women’s Basketball Association is back and so was versatile scoring machine Philicia Kelly.

In the lone game played on Saturday night at the DW Davis Gymnasium, the Lady Defenders, behind the double-double performance from Kelly, knocked off the Shift Lady Eagles.

Kelly, one of the most explosive players in the league before the break, was not as effective, shooting 8-for-20 from the field, 1-for-4 from behind the three-point arc and 3-for-6 from the free throw line.

But she finished with her double-double with her 20 points and 10 rebounds, along with five steals and four assists, as well as seven turnovers in 36 minutes and 33 seconds.

What she didn’t do, the rest of her team-mates made up the difference.

Roberta Quant was their next best scorer with eight points, 12 rebounds and two assists. The veteran centre said it was just good to be playing women’s basketball again. “It’s good to be back out on the court. I just came out to support the girls,” said Quant, who indicated that this will be her final season before she stops playing for good. The Lady Defenders, coached by D’Asti Delancy, also got seven points and 12 rebounds from Chrishanda Rahming, seven points and six rebounds from Tannica Joseph, six points and three rebounds from Trenice Comarcho and five points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals from Tiffany Wildgoose.

“I enjoyed playing with the girls to help develop the younger players and to help instil in them some of the moves of the game,” Quant added. “But I’m glad that we also got the win to start the season on the right track.”

For the Lady Eagles, coached by Anastacia Moultrie, Alesha Curtis and Briontae Riley both had 10 points and nine rebounds each, but it just wasn’t enough as they trailed from start to finish in the game.

Ashley Bethel canned three three-pointers for nine points to help out, Garcia Hanna had seven points, eight rebounds and four steals and Christine Sinclair added six points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals.

“We took the first loss, but we’re not one of the stronger teams in the league,” she said. “We’re still looking for more players, but as the season progresses, we will only get better.”

Despite the loss, Moultrie said it was good to have the women’s league back.

“It feels good. The crowd came out. I guess they were waiting and anticipating us coming back,” said Moultrie, who also serves as the league’s president. “It was nice to get the first opener for the season.

“It’s slow and steady, but the crowd enjoyed it, so it’s going to get better from here.”

The league will play its regular season games on Tuesday and Thursday nights with doubles, while one game will be played on Saturday following the youth developmental league play.