The Wrap

Two of the top four teams in the WBBL Championship suffered defeats at the weekend as the action returned from a three-week break.

Cup finalists Manchester Mystics were handed their second league loss on the season after Sevenoaks Suns recorded an impressive 45-69 win on the road.

Lauren Thomas-Johnson netted 18 points upon her return, but it was in a losing effort as Anne Pedersen led Sevenoaks with 17 points and 12 rebounds to improve above .500.

England Under-18 international Dani Lozzi added 5 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and four steals in an all-round display

“We are very pleased with the way we played,” she enthused. “We started strong, following the game-plan and really focusing on our defence, which showed as we kept them to only eight points in the first.

“I had the honour to guard GB international Georgia Jones, and as a team I feel like we did a great job of not only limiting her scoring but also limiting her play-making role, which was crucial in the win.

“We are definitely a defensive team, so keeping a high-scoring team like Manchester to 45 points really is testament to our defence, and just shows that when we play to our strengths, we are able to compete with the best teams.”

Sevenoaks remain sixth in the standings after picking up their fifth league success, and Lozzi is hoping her side can build on the confidence boosting start to the New Year.

“We are both excited and ready for the challenges ahead and this win gives us confidence for the games to come,” she said.

“It was not only a great start to 2017, but also a great way to bounce back from the narrow loss to Barking.

“We know the standard we can play at, we just need to focus on consistently bringing that to the table, so that we can improve our record and be in contention for those top spots come play-off time.”

Leicester Riders dropped their third game after being beaten 53-73 by Team Northumbria as Chloe Bully scored 20 points and Alison Gorrell added 19 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in the road win.

Ashley Harris posted 19 points and nine boards to help lead Nottingham Wildcats to a 49-63 success away at Caledonia Pride as they remain the league leaders ahead of next week’s WBBL Cup Final.

Meanwhile, Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters moved into joint second after claiming a 69-95 win over Cardiff Met Archers with Steph Gandy and Helen Naylor combining for 46 points.

There was also a slender victory for Barking Abbey Crusaders as they managed to edge out Oaklands Wolves in a 66-63 triumph with Imani Whittington top scoring with 19 points.