Hatters consolidate title bid with vital home victory

WBBL Championship
Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters 83 (12,39,59) (Gandy 27, Gayle 16, Naylor 13)
Team Northumbria 74 (21,38,59) (Bonnenberger 22, Gorrell 15, Baraut 13)

A late surge by the home side and a typically terrific offering from veteran star Steph Gandy and forward Brittany Winborne catapulted Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters to a hard-fought 83-74 league success against a tricky Team Northumbria on Saturday.

It was the visitors who had enjoyed the early supremacy after recording a highly productive first opening ten minutes at both ends of the floor. It harvested them a nice 21-12 advantage, but Hatters then erupted with 27 points in the second period and it set up a super second half.

There was still nothing between the teams after 30 minutes, with the outcome hanging in the balance at 59-59. And, the situation didn’t change heading down the stretch either with Alison Gorrell hitting a jumper for Team Northumbria to tie the game up at 72-72.

But, the north-east side would only manage to score once during crunch time as Hatters finished the contest with an 11-2 run to wrap up the win and move to 8-2, while Team Northumbria fall to 4-5.

Gandy finished with 27 points, with Winborne adding an 11-point and 15-rebound double-double.