WBBL Championship
Leicester Riders 96 – 65 Oaklands Wolves
(28-13, 28-21, 21-17, 19-14)
(Riders – Eadsforth-Yates 28, Arlen 22, Robb 14; Wolves – Smith 21, Gould 16, George 11)
London Lions 67 – 68 Caledonia Gladiators
(6-23, 23-13, 18-20, 20-12)
(Lions – Herbert Harrigan 26, Winterburn 11, Beckford-Norton 10; Gladiators – McGarrachan 19, Handy 17, Wolf 16)
Nottingham Wildcats 47 – 67 Newcastle Eagles
(6-15, 5-29, 15-12, 21-20)
(Wildcats – Nicholas 14, Shaw 10, Whittington 8; Eagles – Lewis 18, Fernandez Pardo 14, Justinak 11)
The Caledonia Gladiators pulled off a huge victory against the London Lions at the Copper Box arena – handing the Lions their first loss of the season and pushing the Gladiators into firm title contention.
Despite trailing by 17 points in the first quarter, London battled to within a single point in the fourth.
However, the Gladiators were too strong and managed to hold on for the victory with a pair of free throws from Chantelle Handy taking the lead with 20 seconds remaining.
The Gladiators went on a 17-point unanswered run in the opening period.
Connecting on three-pointers left right and centre, while scoring inside too. Abbie Wolf added eight points and Erin McGarrachan knocked down back-to-back triples.
A strong and-one finish by Mikiah Herbert Harrigan was able to give the Lions six points at the end of the quarter and much work to do.
In the second quarter the Lions found some new life again – with Shanice Beckford-Norton and Herbert Harrigan scoring.
But eight quick points for McGarrachan put the lead back to 15 with four minutes remaining in the half.
London were clawing back the lead as only McGarrachan could connect for the visitors.
Free throws for Leslie Vorpahl cut the lead to only seven points going into the break.
The Gladiators were able to extend their lead in the third; Handy was the top scorer with points in the period.
Holly Winterburn’s three pointer saw the Lions trail by just six points. Yet consecutive triples for Handy and Tea Adams pushed the lead back to double digits.
Exemplifying the common phrase that basketball is a game of runs, the Lions turned on the heat and pushed forth with a run of their own.
Herbert Harrigan scored four points as London sliced the lead to four points. With Caledonia poised to respond – Handy took charge pushing the lead back to nine.
In the final quarter the Lions used a 9-2 run to bring themselves within three points.
Herbert Harrigan added seven points to her 26-point total.
With two minutes remaining the Lions finally took the lead, after trailing for more than three quarters.
The victory hung in balance as Handy and Wolf connected for Caledonia – whilst Murray and Herbert Harrigan scored for London.
Clutch free throws were the difference maker in the end – as Handy converted from the line – and Taylor Murray was unable to connect on the final possession.
The Gladiators held on to win 67-68. Caledonia remain in fourth place – however put pressure on the Lions, Suns and Riders at the top of the table.
In more WBBL action this Sunday, the Leicester Riders breezed past the Oaklands Wolves in convincing fashion.
Led by 28 points from Jessica Eadsforth-Yates, Leicester dominated the second quarter and continued to add significant runs through the remainder of the game.
Ashley Arlen also had a big game with 22 points.
Oaklands were led by Jorjah Smith with 21 points and Cassidy Gould scoring 16.
The Riders put together a 10-2 early run with Arlen and Eadsforth-Yates connecting from behind the arc in the opening minutes.
Hannah Robb’s layup gave the home side an 11-point lead with only three minutes played.
Gould’s scoring and three-pointers from Smith and Eva Karasaite helped keep Oaklands in the game.
However, it did not stop the Riders from building a 15-point lead in the period.
Leicester put further distance from their opponents through scores from Emma Fee and Kirsty Brown – opening with an 11-0 unanswered run.
The Wolves were trailing by 24 and went scoreless through the first five minutes until Smith converted, sparking a 10-0 run of their own – this time Gould and Smith combining on scores inside and outside the arc.
Five quick points from Arlen and a Eadsforth-Yates triple pushed the lead back to 19.
The Wolves were able to get the lead down to 18 points going into halftime.
After a few turnovers by both sides, Vanessa Obanor got on the scoreboard for the first time.
Robb’s jumper, followed by a three-pointer pushed the lead to 30 midway through the third quarter.
However, Karasaite clapped right back with a triple of her own.
With the clock running down, Eadsforth Yates poured in five points to give Leicester a 26 point lead.
Leicester continued to pour it on in the fourth with threes from Arlen and Lauren Dabbs.
Oaklands were able to show some signs of promise, especially George who was able to connect on a couple of baskets inside.
However, this game firmly belonged to the Riders who would maintain their 31-point lead, winning 96-65.
In the third and final game of the evening, the Newcastle Eagles built a 20-point lead, winning against the Nottingham Wildcats 67- 47.
The Eagles took control of the game early, building a 24-point lead in the first half.
Despite a much improved second half effort from the Wildcats in which they won both the final quarters, the damage had already been done.
Antoinette Lewis had 18 points and 8 rebounds, whilst Marina Fernandez Pardo added 14 points and six rebounds.
The Wildcats got 14 points and 13 rebounds from Kennedy Nicholas and Kayla Shaw added 10 points and six assists.
Lewis opened the scoring for Newcastle with a hook shot. However neither team managed to muster much scoring in the first five minutes – until the Eagles put together an 11-0 run to close out the quarter. Lewis had her way with seven points total.
In the second Courtney Clasen connected from downtown giving Newcastle a 14-point lead.
Macy Cook stopped any further momentum scoring inside plus the foul, calmly sinking the free throw.
However, Lewis and Maggie Justinak sparked another 12-0 run – capped off by Rachael Bland’s corner three-pointer.
With Natalie Charity scoring for Nottingham, Lewis answered right back with another triple – giving the Eagles a 24-point lead.
Nottingham emerged in the second half rejuvenated.
They connected on their first three baskets, scoring eight straight points and trimming the lead to 18.
The Eagles were able to keep finding easy scores with Justinak connecting on a triple and Fernandez Pardo scoring inside.
In the fourth, Newcastle clung to their lead – with Clasen, Lewis and Chloe Gaynor coming up with big defensive stops. Bland’s three pointer pushed the lead to 24.
However, Nottingham came back to within 13 points through five points from Imani Whittington. Nicholas and Shaw also added a pair of baskets each.
Fernandez- Pardo locked in and closed out the game with five unanswered points, giving the Eagles the victory.
The win moves Newcastle to within two points of the Sheffield Sharks who currently hold the 5th spot in the table. The Wildcats remain in 10th place.