WBBL game posts week 3 (week ending 13th Oct)

WBBL - Cardiff Met Archers 56-84 Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters (15-22, 22-45, 35-64)

Hatters are living up to their pre-season billing as one of the frontrunners for the WBBL Championship after moving to 3-0 in league action.
Having won at Sport Central last weekend against the Eagles, Vanessa Ellis and her players collected successive road wins with success in South Wales.
Leading scorers – Shanahan 13, Dukic 12, Wagstaff 8, Jones 8 (Archers); Toeaina 27, Naylor 23, Gorrell 18 (Hatters)
Turning point – Hatters clicked up the gears in the second quarter and with great control and superior physical strength, left Archers trailing in their wake.
Key stat – The rebounding was comprehensive for Hatters who crushed Archers 62-36 on the glass.
Game hero – There were three of them, with Sarah Toeaina, Helen Naylor and Ali Gorrell all racking up monstrous efforts. Toeaina had 27 points and only missed out on a double-double by a solitary rebound. Gorrell did complete the feat with a superb 18 points and 14 boards, while Naylor was not far from a triple-double with 23 points, 8 rebounds and 8 asissts – as well as 3 steals.

WBBL - Essex Rebels 80-104 Nottingham Wildcats (23-26,39-52,63-74)

After picking up their first win of the season last time out, Nottingham Wildcats now have a win on their travels to further boost confidence.
They move to 1-2 and had too much in their locker for Rebels, who are still searching for an elusive maiden victory as a WBBL club.
Leading scorers – Ward 23, Waithe 15, Lutz 14 (Rebels); Shumpert 39, Doran 19, Joyner 15 (Wildcats)
Turning point – Wildcats got stronger as the game unfolded and finished with a dazzling 17-30 last quarter as the hosts ran out of steam.
Key stat – Rebels will be dwelling on 24 turnovers which was too many.
Game hero – Chelsey Shumpert was incredible for Wildcats as she completely showed out with a staggering 39 points – as well as adding 8 boards and 6 assists. Her College team-mate Jasmine Joyner harvested 15 points and 11 boards, while Lana Doran dropped a nice cameo of 19 pointsFirst road win for Wildcats as Shumpert shows out

WBBL - Oaklands Wolves 60-78 Sevenoaks Suns (18-20,30-43, 41-66)

It’s so far, so good, for Sevenoaks Suns in terms of their title defence after the 2017-18 league winners moved to 3-0 with another triumph.
Suns had two exceptional headline performers who were too hot to handle for Wolves, who have started the new season 0-3. Although there is no cause to push the panic button for Oaklands, having endured two very tight opening losses in their opening two games.
Leading scorers – Schluter 17, Pritchard 13, Harrison 10 (Wolves); Carr 30, Koppl 18, Clark 12 (Suns)
Turning point – Suns made a big 17-3 run near the start of the second quarter and never had cause to look back.
Key stat – Suns went to work on the glass and routed their hosts 54-35 – including a massive 18 offensive boards.
Game heroes -There were a couple of sensational displays from Cat Carr who coralled 30 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Meanwhile Ta’Yani Clark added a brilliant 12 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists and 7 steals.

WBBL - Manchester Mystics 90-60 BA London Lions (21-17,40-31,67-51)

It is 3-0 for Jeff Jones and his Manchester Mystics team who continued their impressive start to the new season by rolling past Lions.
Manchester relied on their usual core of players and it was Great Britain level class at the playmaker position that proved a major difference-maker.
Leading scorers – Roscoe 22, Bailey 20, Jones 20 (Mystics); Cotton 16, Brantlova 10, Spinks 10 (Lions)
Turning point – It was still single digits late in the third period but rather than a comeback, Lions imploded completely and were outscored 30-5.
Key stat – Mystics passed Lions off the floor with 30 assists compared to 15 for the visitors.
Game hero – While there were excellent scoring contributions of a combined 42 points from Sam Roscoe and Rheanne Bailey, it was point guard Georgia Jones who stole the headlines. She recorded a monumental 20 points and 16 assists.

CUP - Caledonia Pride 78 v 70 Durham Palatinates

Caledonia Pride are eyeing up back-to-back WBBL Cup Finals after they jumped over the opening hurdle in this year’s competition after 21 points from Tia Welejdi carried them past Durham Palatinates 78-70.
Meanwhile in the WBBL Championship, the top three teams all stayed perfect and moved to 3-0, including Manchester Mystics who stormed past BA London Lions 90-60. They prospered from a magnificent double-double of 20 points and 16 assists from Great Britain guard, Georgia Jones.
Defending champions Sevenoaks Suns won on the road 60-78 at Oaklands Wolves. Cat Carr exploded for 30 points, with Ta’Yani amassing a stellar all-action line of 12 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists and 7 steals.
Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters are also yet to slip-up and they coasted past Cardiff Met Archers 56-84 off the back of three big performances. Ali Gorrell had 18 points and 14 boards, Sarah Toeaina starred with 27 points and Helen Naylor was terrific with 23 points, 8 boards and assists.
Finally, Nottingham Wildcats improved to 2-1 after beating Essex Rebels 80-104 as Chelsey Shumpert showed out in a big way. She produced a staggering 39-point display.