Riders finish unbeaten
WBBL Trophy, Group Stage
Leicester Riders 59-44 Cardiff Met Archers (22-6,36-16,44-29)
It was far from pretty, but Leicester Riders completed their WBBL Trophy Group stage campaign with a win, having already confirmed their place in the last four of the tournament.
The victory also preserved the flawless status of the holders, as they eased out Archers in a defensively dominated contest.
Leading scorers – Holly Winterburn 10, Jen Ashton 9, Brea Elmore 9, Kate Oliver 9, Rebecca Navarro 9 (Riders) – Justine Joseph 10, Sarah Jorgensen 10, Carsi Silva 7, Sarah Wagstaff 7 (Archers)
Turning point – There wasn’t one as Riders made a statement in the opening minutes and were always in control. Although at least the interval gave Archers the chance to stop the bleeding and they were better in the second half.
Key stat – You can’t shoot 23% in a basketball game and expect to be anywhere near to winning and that was the harsh fact for the vicitors.
Game hero – There were no real standout performers, with Jen Ashton probably the pick of the crop with a smart 9 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.