After a hectic five-game slate on Saturday in the SLB, the B. Braun Sheffield Hatters and Manchester Basketball took top spot in the standings before the international break.

Oaklands Wolves are close behind but have played fewer games. Meanwhile, at the bottom, London Lions, Caledonia Gladiators, and Cardiff Met Archers still await their first win.

Manchester Basketball 97-50 Cardiff Met Archers

Manchester Basketball made it three wins out of three in Championship action with a convincing 97-50 win over Cardiff Met Archers in the northwest.

Manchester shot a solid 53% from the field and hit a jaw-dropping 17 three-pointers as they took an early double-digit lead and never looked back despite a never-say-die attitude from the Archers, who battled to the final buzzer.

The hosts’ lead peaked at 51 points as Danni Williams starred with 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Bride Kennedy-Hopoate backed Williams up with 17 points on 7/9 shooting.

Up 26-16 after one, the score did not reflect the game itself, as Cardiff had good looks at the basket and enjoyed decent spells. However, that was as good as it got for the visitors.

Manchester went from first to fifth gear in the blink of an eye, and a quick-fire 10-0 run increased their lead to 20, and soon enough, they were out of the Archers’ sight.

Abigail Yunker paced Cardiff with 12 points.

MVP: Danni Williams (Manchester Basketball)

B.Braun Sheffield Hatters 101-48 Nottingham Wildcats

Whatever Manchester can do, B. Braun Sheffield Hatters could do better. A 14-0 run late in the first quarter set the tone for their 101-48 win over Nottingham Wildcats.

Until that game-changing burst from the Hatters, Nottingham matched its counterparts, blow for blow, but once Sheffield found its groove, the game was over as a contest. The hosts led 31-12 after one, charging their way to 3-0.

Georgia Gayle was outstanding, leading Sheffield with 23 points and 10 assists. Her team-mate Lashayla Wright-Ponder racked up her own double-double of 18 points and 10 boards, as the Hatters out-rebounded the Wildcats 52-37.

Erin Antosh led the Nottingham charge, posting nearly half of the Wildcats’ overall points total with 23.

MVP: Georgia Gayle (B.Braun Sheffield Hatters)

Oaklands Wolves 85-73 Caledonia Gladiators

Oaklands Wolves had to come from behind to topple the Caledonia Gladiators in a physical battle at Oaklands College.

Thanks to 17 points from Danielle McCray, the Wolves recovered from a slow start to improve to 2-0 with an 85-73 success.

The first quarter, however, was a different start to how the story ended, as Caledonia started as the aggressors, attacking the basket and getting good looks through solid offensive play.

Leading 22-15 after the first, the visitors were in control. But the Wolves were just about to wake up from their slumber.

The hosts chipped away at the deficit, eventually knotting the game up at 47-47 by half-time. By the time the final buzzer sounded, they had outscored the Gladiators 38-26, turning the game on its head.

Shanice Beckford-Norton added 15 points for the Wolves. Kirsty Brown had 13 for Caledonia.

MVP: Danielle McCray (Oaklands Wolves)

Leicester Riders 68-77 Essex Rebels

Essex Rebels handed Leicester Riders their first loss of the season as familiar face Taylor O’Brien starred in a 77-68 win.

The former Leicester standout went for 23 points and five assists as she guided Essex to the 2-1 mark, helping the Rebels withstand their barrage from the Riders in the third quarter to finish strong.

A solid first half saw Essex take the advantage, leading 37-29. But by the third period, the Riders hit back, levelling the game up at 55-55 and leaving the game all to play for.

The Rebels stood firm as O’Brien played her part, with Lauren Park-Lane scoring ten of her 23 points in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Katie Januszewska and Kaia Harrison both had 13 points to lead Leicester.

MVP: Taylor O’Brien (Essex Rebels)

Durham Palatinates 89-48 London Lions

It took less than four minutes for the Durham Palatinates to establish a double-digit lead against the London Lions, and they never looked back as they powered their way to their first win of the season.

Durham led from start to finish, with Shanique Lucas unstoppable with 31 points, seven rebounds, and four assists as they eased to an 89-48 win over the Lions.

Lucas led four Palatinates players in double figures, as Eliza Brault added 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Marina Fernandez Pardo hit three triples as she amassed 16 as well.

Chinwe Iwunze led London with 11 points and 10 rebounds, but they are awaiting their first win after three games.

MVP: Shanique Lucas (Durham Palatinates)