The Wrap

Nottingham Wildcats moved to within one win of defending the WBBL Championship as the title race heads into the penultimate week of the regular season.

Dave Greenaway’s side recorded a 74-52 victory at home to Barking Abbey Crusaders to improve to a 13-3 record with two games to play.

Ashley Harris put up 24 points and 10 rebounds in the win with Greenaway pleased with his side’s defensive display

“We really took control of the game in the first quarter, both offensively and defensively,” he declared.

“Barking did a great job in the second and they made it difficult for us.

“We have struggled to be consistent of the defensive end at times, but I was proud of the performance and holding them to 17 points in the second half was a great effort.”

The Wildcats have a four-point cushion over the three-team chasing pack, but have their fate in their own hands as they look set for back-to-back league triumphs.

“We have done a great job to get into this position and to have things in our control,” added Greenaway.

“After losing to Leicester and Sheffield, we showed great character in responding and I feel that the team is really coming together.

“Even when we were 11-1, I didn’t think we were playing at the level we needed to and those defeats gave us some home truths.

“We don’t want to be relying on other results, it’s down to us and all our focus will be on the next game.”

It was a mixed weekend for Manchester Mystics as the WBBL Cup champions lost ground on the leaders.

They opened the weekend with an 85-72 victory over Team Northumbria as Georgia Jones netted 21 points before going down 78-72 away at fellow title challengers, Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters.

Brittany Winborne posted a huge double-double with 25 points and 17 rebounds as the Hatters joined the Mystics on a 11-5 mark – two wins adrift of the Wildcats.

Leicester Riders’ title challenge is over despite also improving to 11-5 with a 53-84 success away at Oaklands Wolves.

Erika Livermore had 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Alex Smith also added a double-double with 14 points and 11 assists, but the Riders have an inferior head-to-head record with Nottingham, and Manchester even if a three-way tie ensued.

Elsewhere, Team Northumbria ended Sevenoaks Suns’ title hopes as Alison Gorrell netted 24 points in a 67-63 win, while the Suns had beaten Caledonia Pride 70-86 the previous day with 29 points from Cat Carr.