Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles 48-115 London Lions
Serios Group Newcastle Eagles starting five: Chloe Gaynor, Maria Fernandez Pardo, Abby Lowe, Katie Nolan, Courtney Clasen.
London Lions starting five: Ivana Katanic, Holly Winterburn, Savannah Wilkinson, Temi Fagbenle, Karlie Samuelson.
In an electrifying showdown, the London Lions showcased their dominance, storming to a resounding 115-48 triumph against the Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles, advancing their record to an impressive 2-0.
In an electrifying showdown, the London Lions showcased their dominance, storming to a resounding 115-48 triumph against the Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles, advancing their record to an impressive 2-0.
The game marked the much-awaited debut of Karlie Samuelson, who immediately etched her name in the Women’s British Basketball League history books.
Samuelson’s exceptional performance saw her amass an astounding 35 points, setting a new record for debutants in the league. Alongside her scoring prowess, she contributed with six rebounds, two assists, and three steals, displaying a stellar all-around game that propelled the Lions to an emphatic victory.
Formidable from the opening tip, London ran up a 15-0 lead before Newcastle’s Abby Lowe, converted her second triple of the season and the Eagles’ opening points to the contest.
Zoe Willis quickly added to Newcastle’s scoring, connecting on a precise floating jump shot.
With seven different players logging first quarter points, the Lions concluded a strong opening period, comfortably ahead 8-28.
Samuelson blossomed in the second quarter, converting three of her seven total triples for 17 first half points.
Despite the deficit, Newcastle stepped up. Capitalising from successive steals, Lowe was primed and ready for easy defence to offence conversions.
The Eagles kept well-disciplined on the attack, sharing the ball well, assisting on five-of-eight first half field goals, despite the suffocating Lions defence.
A mountain still to climb for Newcastle, London benefitted from an excellent second unit, with the bench contributing 23 of London’s 48 first half points – Faye Endean and Juicy Landrum getting consecutive shots to fall.
Battling through the Lions defence, Maria Fernandez Pardo found her stroke from deep, generating two more triples for the determined Eagles.
Shanice Beckford-Norton and Endean closed out the third quarter fiercely for the Lions, combining for a 7-0 run, putting the game beyond the Eagles, with London ahead 33-82.
Newcastle were undeterred heading into the final period, craftily creating gaps in the Lions defence and opportunities to score.
Fernandez Pardo’s hustle on the offensive glass got the Eagles off to a good start.
But 10 unanswered points for London kept their advantage bulletproof.
Ivana Katanic’s two free-throws late in the game put London into the hundred club, with Samuelson delivering two more crushing threes on top.
After an impressive showcase, Lions completed a 48-115 triumph over a spirited Eagles team.
Player of the Game
The game marked the much-awaited debut of Karlie Samuelson, who immediately etched her name in the Women’s British Basketball League history books.
Samuelson’s exceptional performance saw her amass an astounding 35 points, setting a new record for debutants in the league. Alongside her scoring prowess, she contributed with six rebounds, two assists, and three steals, displaying a stellar all-around game that propelled the Lions to an emphatic victory.
| Team | Name | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles | Maria Fernandez Pardo | 19 | 6 | 1 |
| Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles | Katie Nolan | 8 | 7 | 0 |
| London Lions | Karlie Samuelson | 35 | 6 | 2 |
| London Lions | Juicy Landrum | 16 | 6 | 4 |
Cardiff Met Archers 64-110 Leicester Riders
Cardiff Met Archers starting five: Abigail Yunker, Laura Shanahan, Mandi Kawaha, Jenna Hoschouer, Haylee Saurette.
Leicester Riders starting five: Taylor O’Brien, Rayven Peeples, Marissa Hamilton, Sam Ashby, McKenzie Johnston.
In a high-octane clash between the Leicester Riders and Cardiff Met Archers, it was the visiting Riders who emerged victorious, dominating the court with a commanding 64-110 victory.
From the opening moments, McKenzie Johnston of the Riders spearheaded the offensive charge, notching all eight of the team’s initial points.
Johnston’s precision in scoring was complemented by Taylor O’Brien’s sharp shooting, setting the Riders on an early 11-4 lead.
However, the Archers refused to yield, mounting a comeback with Laura Shanahan’s impressive layup and Abigail Yunker’s consecutive scoring possessions, narrowing the gap in the score line.
Leicester’s dynamic duo, O’Brien and Johnston, continued to shine, boosted by Rayven Peeples’ dominance in controlling the rebounds, finishing with a game-high 13 boards.
Leicester held their ground, concluding the first quarter with a solid 26-13 advantage.
The second quarter saw a resurgence from Cardiff Met as Shanahan and Haylee Saurette showcased their scoring prowess, reducing the deficit with back-to-back jump shots.
However, Leicester’s Katie Januszewska and Johnston maintained their offensive onslaught, extending the Riders’ lead to 38-21.
The Riders closed out the first half with a dominant 51-33 lead, powered by Johnston and Peeples’ combined 22-point performance.
After the halftime break, both teams continued their competitive display, with Yunker and Peeples adding to their sides’ tallies.
Johnston, despite nursing a leg injury, remained a force on the offensive end, securing crucial second-chance points for the Riders, with five offensive rebounds to her name.
As the final quarter unfolded, O’Brien let loose on the attacking front, surpassing her season-high 21 points.
Leicester’s relentless attack, doubling Cardiff Met’s three-pointers total, ultimately proved insurmountable for the Archers, culminating in a comprehensive 110-64 victory for Leicester.
Player of the Game
Rayven Peeples showcased her undeniable impact on the court in a stellar performance. Peeples’ stat line tells the story of her dominance: 19 points, 13 rebounds, and a remarkable 81% shooting accuracy from the floor. Peeples’ consistency in securing double-doubles for the third consecutive game underscores her pivotal role in Riders’ success.
| Team | Name | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Cardiff Met Archers | Haylee Saurette | 16 | 5 | 1 |
| Cardiff Met Archers | Abigail Yunker | 12 | 3 | 2 |
| Leicester Riders | Taylor O’Brien | 26 | 6 | 3 |
| Leicester Riders | Rayven Peeples | 19 | 13 | 1 |
Essex Rebels 92-77 Oaklands Wolves
Essex Rebels starting five: Claire Paxton, Renee Busch, Kat Tudor, Megan Haines, Darcy Rees.
Oaklands Wolves starting five: Caterrion Thompson, Jorjah Smith, Shaquera Wade, Amy West, Allison Day.
In a tense matchup, the Essex Rebels claimed a 92-77 victory against Oaklands Wolves.
Essex showcased their dominance in a gripping final quarter, amassing an impressive 27 points to outmanoeuvre the efforts of Oaklands.
Megan Haines emerged as a pivotal force for the Rebels, securing a game-high 25 points, displaying remarkable accuracy from the free-throw line with a 12-of-17 conversion rate.
The game ignited with a fiery start as Allison Day of the Wolves swiftly nailed a shot from the elbow. This early momentum was further propelled by Jorjah Smith’s precision, sinking a triple that set the stage for the Wolves to sprint ahead with a 6-0 burst.
The Rebels, undeterred, responded emphatically with a remarkable four-point play courtesy of Kat Tudor, who has been a consistent standout, averaging 16.5 points per game for Essex’s promising start to the 23/24 season.
The battle intensified as centres Amy West and Darcy Rees traded impressive buckets, West demonstrating finesse with a jump shot from the elbow while Rees powered her way down low for a commanding two points.
Essex managed to inch ahead through a well-executed play between Renee Busch and Rees, showcasing impeccable teamwork to add crucial points to their tally.
As the game surged into the second quarter, the intensity refused to wane. Essex’s Tia Freeman capitalized on a precise assist from Megan Haines, while Oaklands’ Julia Koppl orchestrated a precise pass to set up a scoring opportunity for Beth Sarson.
The game escalated further in the third quarter when the Rebels orchestrated a pivotal 5-0 run. Darcy Rees emerged as a force to be reckoned with, dominating the stat sheet by securing nearly every missed field goal for Essex and converting crucial opportunities.
Despite Oaklands’ tenacity, with Shaquera Wade emerging as their top scorer after adding nine more points to her tally and Amy West knocking down a deep three, Essex’s proficiency from beyond the arc proved pivotal.
Five of their 10 total threes came in the final quarter, sealing the victory for Essex despite the commendable performance put forth by Oaklands, edging them out 92-77.
Player of the Game
In a standout performance that epitomized dominance on the court, Darcy Rees emerged as the undisputed Player of the Game. Rees’ contributions were nothing short of monumental as she notched an impressive 15 points, a staggering 24 rebounds, and four assists.
| Team | Name | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Essex Rebels | Megan Haines | 25 | 4 | 4 |
| Essex Rebels | Darcy Rees | 15 | 24 | 4 |
| Oaklands Wolves | Shaquera Wade | 18 | 10 | 2 |
| Oaklands Wolves | Caterrion Thompson | 16 | 9 | 1 |
Nottingham Wildcats 72-85 Durham Palatinates
Nottingham Wildcats starting five: Valerie Cassidy De Falco, Abby Whitehouse, Mari Stewart, Jessica Wayne, Brooke Bjelko.
Durham Palatinates starting five: Elle Hendershot, Katie Bennett, Sophie Klassen, Harriet Ottewill-Soulsby, Janika Griffith-Wallace.
In a nail-biting fixture, the Durham Palatinates triumphed with a solid 85-72 win against the Nottingham Wildcats on their home court.
An unwavering second quarter performance proved decisive for the visiting Palatinates, setting the stage for a challenging victory.
Throughout the game, the teams fiercely battled, with each quarter hotly contested, all bar one decided by no more than two-point differences.
Mari Stewart and Brooke Bjelko opened up the scoring for the hosts, combining for 12 of Nottingham’s opening 13 points, Stewart going on to notch a team-high 24 points.
Durham mirrored Nottingham’s first quarter tally, with Elle Hendershot and Katie Bennet making early impacts, before Harriet Ottewill-Soulsby became a thorn in Nottingham’s side, finding her way to the charity stripe for easy pickings.
The Wildcats progressed steadily in the second quarter, as the bulk of the points continued to be sourced by Stewart, who was uncontainable.
Meanwhile, Durham embarked on a scoring frenzy – a 13-0 run spearheaded by Janika Griffith-Wallace overshadowing Nottingham’s stellar attacking start.
A barrage of three-pointer to conclude the first half made it a 27-43 advantage to the Palatinates.
Jess Wayne became a difference maker for the Wildcats in the third quarter, scoring on consecutive plays, while also cleaning up on the rebounds, going on to log her first double-double of the season with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Durham nevertheless remained poised, as Ottewill-Soulsby and Griffith-Wallace remained imperative to the Palatinates’ scoring, both players ultimately combining for 54 points.
The tension continued into the final quarter, as both sides remained evenly matched in a hotly contested fixture. Despite a triumphant second half for Nottingham, Durham’s hot streak in the second quarter was enough to provide a comfortable point margin.
Player of the Game
Harriet Ottewill-Soulsby emerged as the Player of the Game, showcasing her exceptional skill set and immense impact on the court. Her remarkable performance of 27 points, alongside four rebounds, two steals, and two blocks, exemplified her versatile contribution to Durham’s success.
| Team | Name | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Nottingham Wildcats | Mari Stewart | 24 | 8 | 1 |
| Nottingham Wildcats | Jessica Wayne | 21 | 11 | 3 |
| Durham Palatinates | Harriet Ottewill-Soulsby | 27 | 4 | 1 |
| Durham Palatinates | Janika Griffith-Wallace | 27 | 4 | 2 |
With the new season here, you can get your British Basketball fix by following the League on social media or heading to our YouTube channel to relive all of the best moments from the season so far.