Week 4 provided some telling results for how D1W may look in 2019/20. With another exciting clash at the top of the table, let's take a look at all the results from across the 19 & 20 October.
Team Solent Kestrels are now the only undefeated team in D1W following their 58 - 49 victory over Anglia Ruskin on Saturday.
ARU came out firing as they took the opening period 15 - 9 but adjustments from the hosts saw the Kestrels regain their composure and with it, the lead. By the middle of the 3rd quarter Solent's lead had passed into double digits and despite a late fight back from the Rhinos, the hosts had the game in the bag.
Krisztina Velkey's 12 point, 12 rebound double-double was big for coach Lee's side as Earleesha Jackson (13 points, eight rebounds) and Jodi Jerram (11 points, nine rebounds) both starred. Katarzyna Neininger went 8/10 for ARU to score a team high 17 points as current WNBL Division One Player of the Week Mdeline Homoly had a 15 point, 15 rebound double double.
Promising forward Alex Baker scored 23 points as Loughborough Riders II beat Barking Abbey Lions II 94 - 65. Losing the opening quarter 25 - 3 put the struggling Lions up against it from the get-go, never really recovering from there.
Harriet Welham (38 points) and Cameron Taylor-Willis (22 points) contributed 60 points for Ipswich as they beat Thames Valley Cavaliers 97 - 72. Welham and Taylor-Willis proved to be largely unstoppable for the Cavs as the duo poured in the baskets, with Welham adding 10 rebounds and seven assists for good measure.
Southwark Pride grabbed their first win of the season thanks to a 66 - 61 victory over Nottingham Trent. After an even 1st half, Southwark grabbed hold of the game in the 3rd to build a solid lead. NTU would fight back but couldn't overcome their deficit. Arielle Jackson (25 points) and Victoria Gray (22 points) combined for the majority of Nottingham's points, Amelia Sandie top scored for Southwark with 24.
Maialen Zilbeti capped a 21 point performance with a late lay-up that pushed Bristol Flyers past Reading Rockets 60-58 on Sunday. Zilbeti's go-ahead basket with 31 seconds remaining proved to be the game's final score as Carmen Segura Moreno's last gasp attempt would fail to connect. Zilbeti was the only Flyer to make it into double digits, captain Candela Hermida Núñez top scored for Reading with 15.
CJ Lee, Team Solent Kestrels head coach: “This week we worked on our game strategy, entered the game with the right mindset and delivered a solid performance. Anglia will no doubt be a stronger team when we travel to them later in the season, but this win is great for our confidence, and this was a positive step in what is shaping up to be a very open contest thus far."
Tough loss today against ipswichbball. Onto the next, we’ve still got work to do. Roll on next Saturday. #getthewin #basketball #starting5 #andihooop #makeithappen #staytuned @ Uxbridge College https://t.co/I751dSkvK4
— TVC Womens Basketball (@TVC_women) October 20, 2019
Good effort to our girls, who fought right to the final minute, in what was a tough game, but couldn't quite come out on top. Final Score 61 - 66. Well done to the girls for giving it your all, especially Arielle, Vicky and Denise who all had standout performances! @InnesEngland
— NTU Women's Basketball (@NTUWBasketball) October 20, 2019
2:00pm – Barking Abbey Lions II 65 v 94 Loughborough Riders II
3:00pm – Thames Valley Cavaliers 72 v 97 Ipswich
3:00pm – Team Solent Kestrels 58 v 49 Anglia Ruskin University - LIVE STATS
6:30pm – Nottingham Trent University 61 v 66 Southwark Pride - LIVE STATS
2:00pm – Bristol Academy Flyers v Reading Rockets - LIVE STATS
The D1W action continues next week as four games make up the week 5 slate.
Current leaders Solent take their unbeaten record on the road against Harriet Welham's Ipswich. Elsewhere, Anglia Ruskin will look to bounce back against a winless Nottingham Trent, Southwark Pride host Bristol Flyers and Thames Valley go up against Loughborough.
Main image credit - Luke Simcock
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