The lopsided victory headlined a four-game opening slate and immediately established Saint Lucia as one of the teams to beat in the eight-day regional competition. From the opening whistle, the hosts asserted control, combining suffocating defence with clinical shooting to dominate every phase of the contest.

Returning to the national side after a lengthy absence, Merlessa Alfred led the scoring charge with an outstanding display, converting 31 of her 33 attempts on goal. She was well supported by Dasha Eugene, who finished 12 from 14, and Semaj Marguerite, who added 10 of 11. The coaching staff also used the opportunity to rotate shooters, giving court time to Melika Destang and Shem Maxwell as Saint Lucia tested its depth.

Overall, the hosts shot an impressive 66 from 79 attempts for an 83.54 per cent success rate, while Montserrat managed just 21 shots at 42.86 per cent accuracy, underscoring the gulf between the two sides on the night.

Despite the ease of the win, Saint Lucia captain Safiya Paul emphasized that the match served a broader purpose. Speaking afterwards, she noted that the team experimented with different combinations and positions to assess what would be effective against stronger opposition later in the tournament.

With matches scheduled every evening, Paul highlighted fitness and recovery as critical factors. She said the team has focused heavily on conditioning and post-game recovery, including ice baths, to ensure players can maintain intensity throughout the demanding schedule.

Elsewhere on the opening day, the Cayman Islands crushed Anguilla 90–14, while St Vincent and the Grenadines defeated Dominica 71–32. The only close contest saw Antigua and Barbuda edge Grenada 39–37.

Saint Lucia will now look to build on its dominant start as the tournament gathers momentum.

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