Riders join Wildcats and Hatters in the last four of the WBBL Play-Offs

WBBL Play-Offs, Quarter-Finals
Leicester Riders 70 (14,34,43) (Hayward 25, Livermore 21, Thompson 9) 
Barking Abbey Crusaders 64 (14,25,36) (Wilkinson 17, Johnson 13, Naydenova-Goryanova 9)

Leicester Riders booked their spot in the WBBL Play-Offs Semi-Finals with a 70-64 victory against Barking Abbey Crusaders.

Matt Harber’s side join Nottingham Wildcats and Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters in the last four after holding off a late charge from the visitors.

Deanne Hayward netted a game-high 25 points to lead the Riders to victory with Erika Livermore adding 21 points and 13 rebounds.

After an even first period, Leicester began to pull away in the second as they established a nine-point advantage heading into half-time.

The Crusaders held the home side to just three points in the opening seven minutes of the third as they closed to within a point, before 6-0 Riders close.

A 9-0 run put BA 43-45 ahead only for the Riders to respond to lead 60-52 with four minutes left and were able to hold on for the victory.

Savannah Wilkinson led BA with 17 points, while Abigail Johnson tallied 13 points and 12 rebounds as their season comes to an end.