There was a home bias to the week 7 WNBL Division One schedule as all four home sides grabbed a win last weekend. To find out the results and how the action played out, let's take a look back at week 7.
Reading Rockets avenged their loss to Loughborough in last season's National Cup Final, beating the Riders 75-54 and moving to 4-2 in the process.
The Rockets' success was built on a 29-13 opening quarter that put the hosts in command early, plus 14 points from Candela Hermida Núñez. In reply, Hannah Dawson scored 14 for the Riders.
The defeat leaves Loughborough down the D1W standings in 8th, whilst Reading are firmly in the hunt up near the top, they're in 4th and just 2 points off 1st.
Barking Abbey Lions II are still without a win this season but they ran London rivals Southwark close on Saturday before falling to a 76-69 defeat. The Lions jumped out to a surprise 29-17 advantage after 1, but couldn't maintain that pace as the hosts eventually got back into the contest before ultimately grabbing the win.
Another stunning performance from Harriet Welham saw Ipswich beat Bristol 79-59. The former WNBL Division One player of the week put on a clinic to finish with 32 points, 10 rebounds, 5 steals and a pair of assists for a stat line that is sure to put her in the running for the award once again. The Flyers did their best to match the output from the Ipswich captain, but a team high 13 points from Flo Ward and Hannah Wallace wouldn't be enough.
Team Solent Kestrels grabbed a narrow 68-63 win over Nottingham Trent University, creating a three-way tie at the top of D1W with Anglia Ruskin and Ipswich. NTU led by 3 at the half but a 16-9 3rd quarter put the hosts back into a lead that they wouldn't relinquish the rest of the way. Krisztina Velkey top scored for the Kestrels with 15 points, adding 12 rebounds for the double-double.
2:00pm - Southwark Pride 76 - 69 Barking Abbey Lions II
3:00pm - Ipswich 79-59 Bristol Academy Flyers - LIVE STATS
3:00pm - Team Solent Kestrels 68-63 Nottingham Trent University - LIVE STATS
2:30pm - Reading Rockets 75-54 Loughborough Riders
Another four fixtures make up the D1W schedule next weekend, headlined by Team Solent's trip west to Bristol to take on the Flyers.
Anglia Ruskin will look to maintain their pace at the top of the table with a game against Barking, NTU look for their first win of the season at home to Thames Valley, and Loughborough entertain Southwark Pride.
Main image credit - Luke Simcock
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