WBBL game posts week 16 (Week ending Feb 3rd)

Sat 2nd Feb 2019 - WBBL Game Reports

Durham Palatinates 61-59 Newcastle Eagles (13-20, 30-38, 42-49)

Durham Palatinates went joint first position in their WBBL Trophy group following a close 61-59 win over Newcastle Eagles.
Eagles were handed their second defeat in their Trophy campaign, having previously lost to Caledonia last week. They now sit bottom of the North 1 group.
Leading scorers – Theairra Taylor 20, Rudianne Eduardo 10, Monika Bosilj 9 (Palatinates) – Kara Bonenberger 13, Rachael Bland 12, Keziah Lewis 10 (Eagles).
Turning point – Newcastle maintained a single digital lead over the home side throughout the game and it wasn’t until 90 seconds remaining in the fourth when a three-pointer from Rhianna Mae Laing put Durham ahead. An additional two pointer stretched that lead to three points with just 19 seconds remaining and a foul on Hannah Ottewill-Soulsby would seal the deal as she would add an extra basket to close out the game.
Key stat – Durham were able to capitalise on the break with 24 points coming from the fast-break compared to just 6 from Newcastle.
Game hero(es) – Theairra Taylor netted a big 20 points for Durham whilst Hannah Ottewill-Soulsby was a key factor also with 11 reounds, six assists and one block.

Oaklands Wolves 67-94 Leicester Riders (10-25, 32-43, 47-66)

Leicester Riders got their WBBL Trophy defence off to a winning start as they beat Oaklands Wolves 94-67 on the road in the South 2 group.
Riders had already won twice at Oaklands this campaign – in the league and Cup – and now hold nine straight wins over Wolves since October 2016.
Leading scorers – Tia Freeman 14, Lauren Milligan/Meg Pritchard/Beth Sarson 8 (Wolves); Holly Winterburn 29, Rebecca Navarro 17, Kate Oliver 16 (Riders)
Turning point – Kate Oliver scored the opening two baskets of the contest as Riders started 6-0 in the first three minutes, before they lead 13-4 on Jennifer Ashton’s three-pointer. Once a double-digit lead was established at 16-6 when Holly Winterburn hit the first of her two early triples, Riders never looked back; and it was settled when they scored the first 12 points of the third period, in another five minute scoreless spell for the hosts.
Key stat – Leicester’s defence was too much for Oaklands as Riders nabbed a massive 15 steals in the game while also restricting the hosts to just 33% shooting from the field and out-rebounding them 61-44.
Game hero(es) – Holly Winterburn filled the statsheet once more in another all-action display. She came close to an extraordinary triple-double with 29 points, 11 rebounds and eight steals, hitting 5-10 three-pointers.

BA London Lions 55-80 Sevenoaks Suns (14-26, 27-41, 37-61)

Sevenoaks Suns bounced back from their WBBL Cup Final disappointment with an empathic 80-55 win over BA London Lions.
The dominant victory sees Sevenoaks take first place in their WBBL Trophy group, with Barking now bottom and Essex Rebels still to play their first Trophy game.
Leading scorers – Lavinia Da Silva 12, Loren Christie 10, Ijeoma Ofomata 8 (Lions) – Cat Carr 22, Janice Monakana 17, Tayani Clark 16 (Suns)
Turning point – London opened the game promisingly with an 8-4 lead within the first couple minutes but then Sevenoaks exploded on a 11-0 run, which gave them the lead which they would never surrender.
Key stat – Sevenoaks dominated London in almost all categories, with 25 points coming from turnovers, 12 on the fast break, 28 from the bench and 10 from second chances.
Game hero(es) – Cat Carr put 22 points on the board for Sevenoaks and also providing 8 key assists to return Suns to winning ways.

It’s a double celebration for Vanessa Ellis after the play-caller was rewarded with the Molten WBBL Coach of the Month award for January after taking Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters to two slices of history.

The Yorkshire side lifted the WBBL Cup for the very first time with their thrilling win against Sevenoaks Suns at Arena Birmingham and in the process, became the first franchise to have won every WBBL competition.

Ellis also masterminded an unbeaten month, with Hatters winning three WBBL Championship games during the period to maintain their title challenge.

January tipped off with an 81-56 success at Nottingham Wildcats and Hatters followed it up with a crushing 109-85 victory against the visiting Newcastle Eagles.

Pushed hard at Durham Palatinates, but eventually pulling out a 60-52 triumph, it was the perfect test for Ellis and her players ahead of their pulsating and memorable 62-60 Cup-winning result against Suns.