WBBL game posts week 20 (Week ending Mar 3rd)

WBBL Game Reports - Sat 2nd Mar

Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters 75-59 BA London Lions (18-14, 37-30, 60-48)

Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters opened the weekend’s proceedings with a 75-59 victory over BA London Lions, in front of their home fans.
With their two main title rivals in Trophy Semi-Final action, the Hatters took their opportunity to join the Suns and Riders on 24 points at the top of the league standings. While Sevenoaks still reside in first place, by virtue of their perfect 12-0 record, Sheffield move alongside Leicester into second spot having improved their season tally to 12-2.
Leading scorers – Sarah Toeaina 24, Alison Gorrell / Levke Brodersen 15 (Hatters); Urysla Cotton 20, Ijeoma Ofomata 12, Kristie Velasquez 11 (Lions)
Turning point – The Hatters produced a methodical display, winning each of the first three quarters by at least a basket or two to set up a double-digit buffer heading down the stretch.
Key stat – The hosts forced 19 turnovers and made the extra possessions count. Sheffield scored a game defining 19 points from turnovers compared to just three points scored off turnovers by the Lions.
Game hero(es) – Toeaina led the hosts with a game-high 24 points to go along with 12 rebounds. Gorrell also recorded a double-double for Sheffield, scoring 15 points and collecting 12 rebounds.

Oaklands Wolves 77-66 Newcastle Eagles (17-18, 38-30, 51-48)

Oaklands Wolves have made it four straight WBBL Championship wins, and six in their last seven, as they beat Newcastle Eagles 77-66 at home.
It was an important win in the Play-off race as Oaklands move up to seventh with a 6-9 record, just one place behind Newcastle, although Eagles take the head-to-head courtesy of a 17 point win in November.
leading scorers – Roya Rustamzada 25, Meg Pritchard 18, Beth Sarson 12 (Wolves); Kara Bonenberger 20, Georgia Ohrdorf 15, Giulia Simioni 11 (Eagles)
Turning point – The teams were separated by just one shot heading into the decisive fourth quarter, and the hosts opened with a 6-1 burst as Roya Rustamzada and Meg Pritchard hit consecutive three-pointers to make the score 57-48. The lead was double-digits with five minutes to play, at 67-57 on a Beth Sarson ‘and one’ as Wolves saw the game out.
Key stat – Wolves continued their run of good defensive performances and combined that with electrifying transition offence, as they forced 23 turnovers in the game and scored 25 points from those, a third of their total.
Game hero – Roya Rustamzada dominated the game, including forcing six of those turnovers through steals, and she had a big double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds.

Manchester Mystics 85-66 Caledonia Pride (14-14, 33-30, 61-43)

Manchester Mystics bounced back from defeat last time out by producing a 85-66 display to beat Caledonia Pride, at the National Basketball Performance Centre.
The hosts recorded their third victory in their last four outings to maintain their grip on a top five position in the standings, while the visitors saw their losing run extended to five games. Caledonia have yet to record a win, in any format, in 2019.
Leading scorers – Samantha Roscoe 19, Evelyn Ovner 17, Natalie Chaloner 13 (Mystics); Tia Weledji 17, Hannah Robb 15, Sian Phillips 9 (Pride)
Turning point – The home side made their move after the half-time break, creating separation in the third quarter by winning the period 28-13 – allowing Manchester to control the game’s tempo for the reminder of the contest.
Key stat – Manchester found joy under the basket, scoring 52 points in the paint. In contrast, the visitors could only manage 22 points from the same distance.
Game hero(es) – Roscoe stole the show for the Mystics, scoring a game-high 29 points to go along with eight rebounds. Ovner, Chaloner, Rheanne Bailey and Georgia Jones also scored in double-digits for the hosts.

Leicester Riders 70-65 Sevenoaks Suns (11-17, 25-35, 44-44, 59-59) - After overtime - Trophy-semi

The defending champions are back in the WBBL Trophy Final after Leicester Riders beat Sevenoaks Suns 70-65 in an overtime thriller.
Riders have now won seven games in a row in what was a repeat of last season’s final, and will meet Durham Palatinates this time around on Sunday 10 March at Emirates Arena in Glasgow.
Leading scorers – Brea Elmore 21, Dee Hayward 14, Kate Oliver 12 (Riders); Jess Good 24, Cat Carr 12, Julia Koppl 10 (Suns)
Turning point – A Brea Elmore three-pointer gave Riders a lead with a minute to play in regulation but, fittingly between the league’s top two, overtime was forced by Julia Koppl, and she initially put Suns up in the extra period. But a Kate Oliver triple turned that around before Brea Elmore attacked the basket with 20 seconds to play to give Riders a 68-65 edge that proved to be enough.

Nottingham Wildcats 58-60 Cardiff Met Archers (19-19, 33-34, 40-52)

Cardiff Met Archers got back to winning ways with a fine display to upset Nottingham Wildcats 60-58, on the road at Nottingham Wildcats Arena.
The away side withstood a late Nottingham charge to put an end to a poor run of form and pick up a fourth league victory – reigniting their push for a place in the post-season. Defeat for the home side sees them slip to fifth position in the table, overtaken by the Mystics who won earlier today.
Leading scorers – Jagoda Oses 15, Jasmine Joyner 14, Chelsey Shumpert 13 (Wildcats); Sarah Wagstaff 17, Stef Collins 13, Sarah Jorgensen 12 (Archers)
Turning point – The Archers came to life in the third quarter, outscoring the hosts 18-7. The run provided Cardiff with enough of an advantage to hold on to victory, despite a valiant effort from Nottingham in the final period.
Key stat – In a game of small margins, where both teams struggled to find offensive rhythm, Cardiff’s defence held the opposition to just 33% shooting from the floor and only 11% from behind the three point line,
Game hero(es) – Wagstaff, Collins and Jorgensen combined for 42 of the visitors 60 points, with Collins landing a pair of vital shots from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter.

WBBL Game Reports - Sun 3rd Mar

BA London Lions 70-56 Newcastle Eagles (18-14,37-28, 53-42)

The Lions tore their way into the visiting Newcastle as they clipped the Eagles’ wings to claim a fifth league success of the season.
The home defence came up trumps as they shut down the visitors in a big way, taking an eye-catching win and condemning their opponents to a weekend defeat double having also lost at Oaklands on Saturday.
Leading scorers – Ijeoma Ofomata 23, Urysla Cotton 18, Macy Spinks 10 (Lions); Georgia Ohrdorf 20, Steph Gandy 13, Kara Bonenberger 9 (Eagles)
Turning point – An 11-2 finish to the first half from Lions gave them the platform for when the action resumed and they took full advantage.
Key stat – The defence of Lions was excellent and consistent. Eagles didn’t manage to score 15 points or more in any period of the game. In fact, the visitors scored 14 points in every single quarter.
Game hero(es) – Urysla Cotton had another standout game for Lions with a fabulous 18 points and 11 rebounds, with Ijeoma Ofomata shooting well with 23 points.

Leicester Riders 86-81 Essex Rebels (30-17, 41-29, 64-65)

There was a palpable sense of relief from Leicester Riders as they came from 14-points behind in the second half to pip struggling Rebels.
In a thrilling encounter and super advert for the league, Riders got it done in crunch time to complete a joyous weekend, having confirmed their place in the Betty Codona WBBL Trophy Final 24 hours earlier.
Leading scorers – Rebecca Navarro 19, Dee Hayward 17, Brea Elmore 13 (Riders); DeAngelique Waithe 29, Jessy Ward 23, Charleene Tom 10 (Rebels)
Turning point – Rebels led 64-50 late in the third period, but Riders finished strongly and got to within a point heading into the last quarter. It gave them the confidence and momentum to push on for the victory.
Key stat – Rebels spilled the ball 20 times and several of those came in the last 15 minutes, including unforced errors when inbounding from their own baseline.
Game hero(es) – It was a team performance from Riders, with Rebecca Navarro choosing a good time to have her best outing of the season with 19 points. Dee Hayward led by example with 17, while Brea Elmore claimed 13 points and 8 assists as she came up in the clutch for the second time in as many days.

Durham Palatinates 54-70 Sevenoaks Suns (19-19,35-34, 41-48)

After the crushing disappointment of missing out on the 2019 Trophy Final via Saturday’s Semi-Final loss to Riders, it took Sevenoaks Suns no time at all to back.
They were able to get back on track and consolidate top spot in the standings with a success in the north-east, as they cemented their status as the favourites to be crowned WBBL Championship winners again.
Leading scorers – Rudiane Eduardo 15, Monika Bosilj 15, Theairra Taylor 15 (Palatinates); Jess Good 16, Renee Busch 15, Ta’Yani Clark 13 (Suns)
Turning point – The visitors turned the defensive screw in the third period and held Durham to a paltry 6 points.
Key stat – The Suns came up with 17 big offensive rebounds in the contest.
Game hero(es) – Not for the first time in her WBBL career, Ta’Yani Clark claimed a stellar triple-double, this time accumulating 13 points, 17 rebounds and 11 assists.

Durham Palatinates are looking forward to playing in their first ever major Final and their play-caller Lee Davie has been recognised for guiding his team to a historic accomplishment, as well as an eye-catching 5-1 record.
Davie has been handed the Molten WBBL Coach of the Month accolade for February after taking his team into the Betty Codona WBBL Trophy Final, which will take place on Sunday 10 March in Glasgow.
He masterminded a magnificent 82-71 Semi-Final success against WBBL Cup winners and favourites Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters, having previously delivered the wins needed to see his team make it to the last four.
A 61-59 success against Newcastle Eagles and a double triumph at home and away over Caledonia Pride were all vital during the Trophy Group stage.
Palatinates and Davie also signed off the month by winning at BA London Lions 64-60 in the WBBL Championship, with their only reverse during the period coming in the shape of a 72-68 overtime loss at Newcastle.