WBBL Play-Offs, quarter-finals

 (AOT) Leicester Riders 83-80 Essex Rebels (20-20, 35-46, 52-62, 72-72)
(Riders: O’Dwyer, 23; Johnston, 19; Arlen/Squires, 18 — Rebels: Swart, 24; Paxton, 16; Munns, 14)

Leicester Riders came from behind to edge the Essex Rebels 83-80 after overtime in an exhilarating WBBL Play-off, quarter-final at the Morningside Arena on Sunday.

In a breathless tie, everything that you want to see in a post-season battle, Essex saw their 13-point lead evaporate thanks a strong fourth period from the Riders.

With 1:04 left, Oliana Squires (18 points) gave Leicester a 70-69 lead with a tough lay-up. From there, they were able to get key stops before Squires again connected, this time from the elbow for a three-point lead with 27 ticks left.

Essex needed a heroine, and they got that from Claire Paxton, who drilled a three at the top to tie the game with 17 seconds to go, forcing overtime.

With nothing to separate the two teams with less than a minute left, Leicester held their nerve to seal the win from the foul line.

Fiona O’Dwyer hit four triples for 23 points along with nine rebounds with Mackenzie Johnston also close to a double-double with 19 points and nine boards.

Ashley Arlen did get a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds as Leicester – this season’s Cup and Trophy finalists – survived.

Sune Swart had 24 points for Essex who lose out in a heartbreaker to the number three seed.

As we have seen from both sides this season, they favour pushing the ball and playing an up-tempo of basketball, which is exactly what they did in the opening exchanges with Riders leading 9-4 within the first three minutes.

Getting high percentage shots close to the basket was the theme of the first quarter as Swart connected on a sweet turnaround only for Johnston to respond with a floater off the glass.

The Rebels hung around as a tough lay-up plus the foul from Paxton narrowed the gap to 14-9 with the play slowing down, which favoured Essex as a jumper from Ashleigh Munns and free throws from Tia Freeman narrowed the gap to 18-17 with 2:31 left.

And the pressure from Essex paid off as a three from Paxton gave them a 20-18 lead, however, it didn’t last, as the Riders were able to knot the game at 20-20 at the end of one.

Essex stormed out of the gates in the second, taking advantage of rushed offences from the Riders and head coach Krumesh Patel was forced into a timeout early in as his side were the wrong side of a 10-3 start, capped by a basket from Rebels’ Megan Haines, putting them in front 30-23.

Demanding more urgency from his team, coach Patel didn’t count on the visitors carrying on where they left off as a three from the wing by Paxton extended the lead to 33-25 with 5:14 left.

Everything Essex touched turned to gold. They were connecting on everything they threw up, extending their lead to double digits with three minutes to play and Riders needed to fight back.

And through O’Dwyer, they started to, narrowing the gap to as little as five points, but Essex upped their game again, a three-point play from Freeman and a jumper on the buzzer from Daniela Turner handed the Rebels a 46-35 advantage at the half.

Trailing by as many as 13 in the early stages of the third, Leicester found their groove, albeit slowly, but Essex didn’t let their heads drop, maintaining their double-digit cushion for the majority.

Going into the final quarter down 62-52, the Riders needed a spark to bring them to within touching distance of their counterparts.

They got that flicker of hope thanks to an 8-3 start to the period as O’Dwyer’s triple from the corner narrowed matters to 65-60, as Essex coach Ross Norfolk call a halt to proceedings.

Leicester were building momentum, as Arlen made it a one-point game at 65-64, as they looked to complete the comeback. The Rebels were hanging on, despite getting relief from a three by Swart with four minutes to play.

And with 2:30 remaining, Leicester’s comeback was complete as a score from Johnston tied the game at 68-68, setting up the thrilling conclusion.

The WBBL Play-off, quarter-finals concludes tomorrow (Monday 1 May) when London Lions hosts Newcastle Eagles. To be part of the action, you can watch, like, share and subscribe to the WBBL YouTube channel by clicking here.