WNBL1 recap: Week 5 (30/31 October 2021) - live streams, stats and more

There was a lot to like about week five in the WNBL, not least the first NBL Live broadcast of the D1W season.

It didn't disappoint either, with Bristol producing a top-quality performance to stun Anglia Ruskin and claim their first win of the season.

There were also victories for Loughborough, Solent, Thames Valley, CoLA and Cardiff in what was an eventful weekend across the league.

There's a recap of all the action below, and each result is also clickable if you wish to view the live stats.

Bristol Flyers (1-4) 49-43 Anglia Ruskin University (2-2)

Bristol grabbed win #1 for the season with a gritty 49-43 victory over Anglia Ruskin.

Holding their opponents to just 15 second-half points, Flyers were able to do just enough on offence to get over the line.

Hannah Wallace and Emma Bailey both top scored on 10 points, with Mai Zilbeti adding nine more off the bench.

Back-to-back player of the week Katrin Hulme was held to just five points on a 2-12 afternoon, leaving Courtney Gray (19pts) and I Zaffaroni (10pts) to pick up the slack as ARU rolled with a six-player rotation throughout.

A low-scoring opening quarter saw neither team make it to double digits, but a 21-14 second frame that included a 7-0 run for the visitors appeared to be taking the tie away from the winless Flyers.

Coach Vega Fuentes' side showed they're made of sterner stuff though, toughing it out after the main change to take both second half quarters to seal the come from behind win.

A first W of the year moves Bristol up to within touching distance of a playoff spot in tenth, whilst ARU fall back to .500 and into a tie for fifth.

Elsewhere this weekend

In the battle of last season's playoff finalists, it was CoLA Southwark Pride (5-0) that grabbed revenge, beating Ipswich (3-1) 60-48.

CoLA broke the game open in the third to lead by as many as 13, but Ipswich battled back to get within four as the final quarter began. The hosts regrouped to take the final 10 minutes 15-8, sealing the W.

Isi Ozzy-Momodu pulled down a stunning 21 rebound, including 11 on offence, whilst adding 13 points for a hefty double-double. Ipswich were led by 16 points across the full 40 minutes from Olivia Forster.

Like CoLA, Loughborough Riders (5-0) also stayed unbeaten on the year, beating Reading Rockets (1-4) 46-33.

With the game evenly poised at 26-20 to the Riders by half time, the Rockets came out and dropped the third period 16-3, all but ending their chances of success.

Alia El Shabrawy's 10 points and nine boards led the way for Loughborough, Gaila Comesana top scored for Reading with six.

There was plenty of offence on show on the South coast as Team Solent Kestrels (3-1) won 91-62 against Nottingham Trent University (0-4).

A healthy 27 points from Solent's Faye Endean led all scorers, adding a trio of rebounds plus two assists, seven steals and a block. Detti Balla also added 15 points off the bench.

Lindsey Cleary (21pts, 14reb, 5 stl) and Lilly Annim (19pts, 13reb) both put up double-doubles for the visitors, but it wouldn't be enough to stop NTU slipping to their fourth defeat in a row.

Thames Valley Cavaliers (2-2) enjoyed their second win of the season as they beat Worcester Wolves (2-3) 64-55.

Forward Ezekiela Lisk put together a 19 point, 14 rebound effort for the visitors, backed up well by Katherine Goldsby, who added 17 points and nine boards. Carolina Marques (13pts) was the pick of the pack for the Wolves.

Cardiff Met Archers II (2-2) had Carys Roy to thank as they beat London Lions II (1-4) 69-61.

Roy was in stunning form to finish with 17 points, 14 rebounds and four assists, powering her side at both ends of the court throughout.

Fatmata Janneh continued her fine form for the Lions, but her 25 points and nine boards wouldn't be enough.

This weekend's results:

Saturday 30 October

1pm - Loughborough Riders 46-33 Reading Rockets - LIVE STATS/LIVE STREAM

3:30pm - Team Solent Kestrels 91-62 Nottingham Trent University - LIVE STATS/LIVE STREAM

4pm - Worcester Wolves 55-64 Thames Valley Cavaliers - LIVE STATS

5pm - Bristol Flyers 49-43 Anglia Ruskin University - LIVE STATS/LIVE STREAM

Sunday 31 October

2:30pm - CoLA Southwark Pride 60-48 Ipswich - LIVE STATS

4:30pm - Cardiff Met Archers II 69-61 London Lions II - LIVE STATS/LIVE STREAM

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Main image credit - Luke Simcock