WBBL Championship

 Cardiff Met Archers 75-70 Essex Rebels (20-16, 38-31, 55-54)
(Archers: Hatch, 26; Saiki, 13; Shanahan/Bunyan, 9 — Rebels: Paxton/Kohlhaas, 14; Freeman/Swart, 11; Turner, 8)

Cardiff Met Archers returned to the eighth and final WBBL Championship playoff spot following a tense 75-70 win over the Essex Rebels at the Archers Arena on Tuesday afternoon.

In a physical, closely contested battle throughout, Cardiff were able to pull clear as a key three-point play from Shannon Hatch with 56 seconds left ultimately sealed the deal as they replace Durham Palatinates, who held the coveted final spot for 24 hours.

For Essex, currently in sixth, they will be disappointed not to solidify their place with the Newcastle Eagles breathing down their neck in seventh.

Hatch led the way for the Archers with 26 points and eight rebounds with Lauren Saiki adding 13.

Andrea Kohlhaas and Claire Paxton both had 14 points for Essex with the latter also pulling down 13 rebounds.

Both teams were slow to get going with missed shots and turnovers as Hatch connected on five quick points to give the hosts a 7-2 lead with 6:49 left in the first.

Despite the chaotic start, the Rebels regrouped and turned into a patient group, looking for the right shot offensively as Daniela Turner narrowed the gap to two points with a tough lay-up.

However, so were the Archers, as sublime ball movement around the perimeter led to an open three for Laura Shanahan to keep Cardiff ahead. Essex tried to quicken the pace as the first quarter ended, but they still trailed 20-16.

And the hosts kept their momentum going in the second period as they had the upper hand on a spell littered with three-point attempts as Shanahan connected from the corner to give the Welsh side a 30-23 cushion.

Able to outshoot the Rebels in the first half, the Archers took a 38-31 lead, going 4/11 from deep as opposed to 3/14 from their counterparts and shooting a high percentage from the floor (42% – 31%).

Cardiff’s advantage rose to 45-34 early in the third as Abbie Yunker connected for another three, only to be answered by a basket from Sune Swart as Essex were determined to keep in touch.

From there, the Archers could not connect inside, leaving the door open for Essex to stage a fightback thanks to a 9-2 run to trail by four with 4:32 remaining in the third, forcing a timeout from Cardiff coach Stef Collins.

The following possessions for the hosts were pivotal as the visiting Rebels were putting together solid and patient offence, getting second chance opportunities and putting themselves at the foul line.

Hatch connected from the foul line with 1:24 left in the third to maintain their lead but having led by as many as 11, only just kept themselves in front 55-54 going into the fourth.

And for the first time since the first quarter, a lay-up from Alexa Naessens gave Essex a 56-55 lead only for Shanahan to connect from deep again to restore Cardiff’s lead.

The lead bounced around in a tightly-contested quarter, as Archers fought for their playoff lives as Issy Bunyan gave the hosts a 68-66 lead with a wild shot over three Rebels players with under three minutes to play.

Both teams blew opportunities to put the game to bed as the nerves looked evident until a three-point play from Hatch with 56 seconds left handed Cardiff a 71-68 lead.

And in the end, it was enough to give coach Collins and her side a vital win with two weeks of the regular season remaining.

Cardiff will now travel to Newcastle on Saturday night in a vital battle in the final spaces of the post-season picture. Essex will travel to the B.Braun Sheffield Hatters on the same day.