Wildcats hold off late Northumbria rescue bid

WBBL Trophy, North Group
Team Northumbria 66 (13,25,46) (Gorrell 26, Fong Lyew Quee 17, Bonnenberger 13)
Nottingham Wildcats 70 (21,44,55) (Harris 22, Prior 12, Hebert 8)

Nottingham Wildcats bounced back from successive losses to record a 66-70 win away at Team Northumbria in the WBBL Trophy.

After losing last week’s Cup Final, the Wildcats lost their opening North Group clash with Sheffield yesterday, but were quick to rectify the loss by improving to 1-1.

Ashley Harris top scored once again for the Wildcats with 22 points, while Laurent Hebert provided an all-round contribution with eight points, 10 rebounds and four assists in the win.

The Wildcats were quick out of the blocks with an 8-1 opening to set the tone for their first half control – leading by as many as 10 in the first quarter. A 9-0 run in the second established a 16-point gap and after a brief rally from the hosts, Nottingham moved into the half-time break up 19.

Northumbria still faced a large deficit with three minutes to go in the third but a 9-0 run cut the gap down to single figures to give themselves hope heading into the final 10 minutes.

The lead was whittled down to five as Nottingham were held scoreless for almost five minutes before regaining their composure at a critical time and Siobhan Prior landed a dagger three with her side able to hold on down the stretch.

Alison Gorrell tallied 26 points and 11 rebounds to lead the TN resistance, but they were unable to get off to a winning start in the competition.