WBBL Cup
Manchester Mystics 94-53 Essex Rebels (30-18, 58-27, 77-41)
Manchester Mystics powered into the next round of the WBBL Cup after beating Essex Rebels 94-53 at the National Basketball Performance Centre on Saturday afternoon.
Mystics won the Cup in 2016-17, and remain unbeaten in four games in all WBBL competitions so far this season.
Leading scorers – Roscoe 22, Bailey 21, Ovner 16 (Mystics); Lutz 19, Ward 14, Waithe 10 (Rebels)
Turning point – Mystics dominated from tip-to-buzzer after putting up 30 first quarter points to take an early double-digit lead, as Rheanne Bailey scored seven early points including five in a 9-0 burst that made the score 19-7. The lead was through 30 by the half on a Georgia Jones three-pointer, as Mystics held their visitors to just nine second stanza points.
Key stat – Manchester’s defence was stifling. They forced Rebels into 17 turnovers, for 19 points off turnovers, and held them to just 29% shooting from the field. Georgia Jones led the way with three steals.
Game hero(es) – All five Mystics’ starters scored in double-figures, led by 22 points and 10 rebounds from Samantha Roscoe; while Jones had 11 points and a massive 17 assists, and Bailey scored 21 with seven rebounds and six assists.