Jhanielle Fowler-Reid

GLASGOW, Scotland:

Jamaica's Sunshine Girls will go into today's match against world number five ranked Malawi knowing very well that a loss may send their Commonwealth Games ambitions crashing to the hardwood.

The Jamaicans, ranked one place above the Africans, have hardly set a foot wrong so far in their three games; battering St Lucia 88-24 and getting by Northern Ireland 65-34 before yesterday's 68-26 win over host nation Scotland.

Romelda Aiken and roommate Thristina Harwood led the lines with 57 goals between them; Aiken the usual target with 42 goals from 49 attempts, with Harwood chipping in with 15 from 21 and 12 assists. Jhaniele Fowler-Reid came in during the fourth quarter and helped herself to 11 from 14, with Sasher-Gaye Henry being the top facilitator with 18 assists.

four deflections

Paula Thompson was a machine in the midcourt, hassling the Scottish girls with five interceptions and four deflections, as the team tightened the defensive vice grip as the game progressed.

Coach Minneth Reynolds was pleased with the win, but is all too familiar with Malawi's improvement over the years, referring to today's square off as the most important so far in Glasgow.

Malawi, known as 'The Queens', must win to keep their hopes alive, and will turn up full of confidence after pushing two-time defending champions and world number two-ranked New Zealand in their 47-50 loss earlier in the competition.

In their other games, the Africans have beaten Northern Ireland 71-50 and St Lucia 69-28.

"We are happy with the result, we wanted a win and that's what was important. It was a little bit shaky and we still have a few things to do defensively. We didn't start too well defensively and as a result of that we had a little struggle in the start," said Reynolds said, before turning her attention to today's contest, which starts at 7:00 p.m. (1:00 a.m. Jamaica time).

important

"We are definitely looking forward to the game against Malawi, the girls are looking forward to it and have been talking a lot about it so lets see what happens on court," said Reynolds. "It's the most important game so far, the others were also important but the next two will decide whether we move on to the semi-final, so we have to come strong and play well throughout."

Jamaica will close out the group stage against New Zealand on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. (5:30 a.m.).

"We are not surprised about Malawi's strength in attack and defence. They have been working on their game and it has been very good so far and so we know that we cannot take anything for granted. We have our game plan and they will have theirs, so we will hope that our girls execute well on the day."