Team Northumbria scrap their way to an eighth straight WBBL Championship win.
WBBL Championship
Caledonia Pride 62 – 63 Team Northumbria (12-17, 29-42, 42-56)
A short-handed Team Northumbria held on through a late battle to beat Caledonia Pride 63-62 on the road.
It means that they strengthen their position in the top four, making it eight league wins in a row and avenging their only defeat since October, in the WBBL Cup semi-finals at the hands of the Pride.
Leading scorers – Robb 18, Oakes 9, Reynolds 8 (Pride); Gorrell 22, Ovner 21, Ward 11 (Northumbria)
Turning point – Northumbria started the second quarter with a 13-3 run to take a commanding 30-15 lead as Gorrell, Evelyn Ovner and Florence Ward hit three-pointers. That gave them a cushion that they needed as the hosts stormed back in the fourth quarter, getting back to within one point and missing a shot under intense pressure to win the game with two seconds to play.
Key stat – In a hard fought game, Northumbria’s interior defence was key. Pride were allowed to shoot just 32% from the inside, scoring only 28 points in the paint as the visitors contained their key interior threats of Rosanna Reynolds (eight points, shooting 18%) and Tricia Oakes (nine points).
Game hero – Gorrell finished the game with a massive double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds. She suffered an ankle injury late in the game and, when Jodie Tucker fouled out and with Northumbria only suiting up six players, she had to battle through the last few minutes on one leg, including grabbing an important rebound in that time.