Newly-crowned SLB Championship winners Oaklands Wolves suffered a hiccup in the North-West and B. Braun Sheffield Hatters inch closer to securing second spot.

B. Braun Sheffield Hatters 83-46 Leicester Riders

B. Braun Sheffield Hatters used a blistering 47-20 second half to see-off the challenge of the Leicester Riders at the Canon Medical Arena.

Shauna Harrison led the Hatters with 17 points, Tyia Singleton and Nina Krisper both chipped in with 14, the latter pulling down six rebounds, as they thumped the Riders 83-46 in a rare Wednesday game.

Already 36-26 in front at the break, Sheffield went into overdrive in the third quarter to bolster their cushion before a 20-9 fourth quarter shutout sealed the deal.

Katie Januszewska led Leicester with 18 points, but they were without Jess Eadsforth-Yates and they shot just 28% from the floor.

MVP: Nina Krisper (B. Braun Sheffield Hatters)

Manchester Basketball 82-77 Oaklands Wolves

Manchester Basketball handed the new SLB champion Oaklands Wolves just their second loss of the Championship season with an 82-77 win after overtime at Belle Vue.

Danni Williams hit seven of Manchester’s 10 points in overtime, and buried 24 points overall to lead her side, adding an incredible 15 rebounds for good measure. Davida Dale led the winners with 28.

It was Williams who sent the game to overtime, as she calmly drained free throws with under a minute to play and from there, she was a one-woman force to victory.

Shanice Beckford-Norton finished with 16 points and nine assists to lead Oaklands.

MVP: Danni Williams (Manchester Basketball)

London Lions 42-98 B. Braun Sheffield Hatters

B. Braun Sheffield Hatters completed their good week with a resounding 98-42 win over the winless London Lions.

The Hatters wasted little time in ending the game as a contest, racing out to a 32-7 lead, thanks to a 22-1 finish to the first period.

Sheffield’s lead grew to as many as 56 points, inflicting another defeat on the Lions, who will face fellow strugglers Nottingham in their final game, desperate to not end the season completely winless in all competitions.

Emma Gandini led Sheffield with 18 points in a well-balanced scoring effort. Macy Spinks paced London with 20 points.

MVP: Emma Gandini (B. Braun Sheffield Hatters)

Nottingham Wildcats 68-84 Newcastle Eagles

Fourth placed Newcastle Eagles strengthened their position by beating Nottingham Wildcats 84-68 in the East Midlands.

However, the Tyneside outfit made hard work of their eventual win at the start, trailing 20-17 after the first quarter to a spirited Wildcats side, looking doomed to finish second from bottom this season.

The Eagles struck back in the second period to edge ahead at the break and from there, Newcastle had more fight to seal a crucial win.

Jada Guinn and Kendall Currence both had 18 points to lead Newcastle, but special praise must go to Erin Antosh for Nottingham, who posted a monster 31 points and 21 rebounds, almost single-handedly running the Wildcats offence.

MVP: Jada Guinn (Newcastle Eagles)

Caledonia Gladiators 77-43 Durham Palatinates

Caledonia Gladiators defeated Durham Palatinates rather comfortably at PlaySport as 16 points from Tea Adams helped them to a 77-43 victory.

The win gives Caledonia hope in finishing in the top four, but with just one game left for them to play – away to Cardiff Met Archers –  and Newcastle still play three games, they will need a lot of luck.

The hosts raced out to a 21-9 lead after one and never looked back, leading from tip to final buzzer with their lead peaking at 38 points.

Eliza Brault led Durham with 10 points.

MVP: Tea Adams (Caledonia Gladiators)

Essex Rebels 74-63 Cardiff Met Archers

Essex Rebels had to battle hard to overcome Cardiff Met Archers 74-63 in Colchester.

Trailing for the majority of the first half, but only down 39-37 at the break, Essex hit back in the third, holding Cardiff to just six points to take the advantage and ultimately the victory.

Maria Blazejewski shot 60% from the floor for 22 points and 11 rebounds to lead Essex to their tenth win of the Championship and secure a place in the top six.

Abigail Yunker had 21 points and seven rebounds for the Archers.

MVP: Maria Blazejewski (Essex Rebels)