There was an eye-opening start to the season for defending champions Solent, with notable wins for the likes of Loughborough, Brent and Manchester Mystics elsewhere.
We take a look at all the weekend's action below, with links to live stats and live streams below.
Defending league and playoff champs Team Solent Kestrels came back to earth with a bump this weekend as they were well beaten by Endeavour Ipswich Basketball, 118-42.
The realignment of Solent's focus during the past off-season is well known, and the new look Kestrels were second best in Suffolk this weekend as a 46-7 opening quarter spelled trouble from the get-go.
Harriet Welham enjoyed her return to D1W action, flirting with a quadruple-double (26pts, 9reb, 7ast, 7stl) in just 28:37 of play.
Olivia Forster (25pts, 11reb, 9stl) and Yazmin Edwards (21pts, 14reb) both played well in support as Solent were forced into 53 turnovers across the contest.
The much-changed Solent roster struggled on a tough afternoon, with forward Earleesha Jackson (13pts, 9reb) the only player for TSK to make it to double digits on the score board.
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Emphatic start to the 23/24 season for our Senior Women who take the 118-42 win against the league champions hugely changed roster…#IBCfamily pic.twitter.com/v3kBERiO41
— Endeavour Ipswich Basketball Club (@IpswichBball) October 1, 2023
Brent Bulls (1-0) started their season with a statement win against former D1W winners CoLA Southwark Pride (0-1), coming through on top 67-62.
CoLA led by four at 60-56 with 5:39 remaining, but an 11-2 run to finish the game tipped the tie in Brent's favour, with Jess Davies (21pts, 14reb) leading the way. Felicia Jacobs had an impressive 22 point, 17 rebound double-double for the visitors.
Loughborough Riders (1-0) also claimed a solid victory to start their season, knocking off Thames Valley Cavaliers (0-1) 61-57.
TVC led the contest from tip until well into the third quarter, when the Riders would use a 21-11 frame to get themselves back into the game.
Sasha Lecuyer (18pts, 10reb) and Emma Dunsire (11pts, 10reb) both chipped in double-doubles for the hosts as they held on for the win, with Katie Richards (21pts, 11reb) playing well for the Cavs.
There was a frantic finish in East London as Reading Rockets (1-0) edged past Barking Abbey (0-1) 75-72.
Both teams held the lead in the final sixty seconds, but it was Sante Moonie (14pts, 12reb) who dropped the final layup with 5 ticks remaining before adding a further point from the line to seal the win.
Lindsey Cleary (28pts, 10reb) impressed for the Rockets, whilst Ruchae Walton (32pts, 6reb) was in fine form for BA.
Anglia Ruskin University (1-0) made a winning start to their campaign as they beat Bristol Academy Flyers (0-1) 61-54.
Tereza Zatkova (17pts) and Kasia Neininger (15pts) both made big contributions for ARU in a low-scoring contest, erasing what had been an eight point Bristol lead late in the third before turning things around into a seven point victory.
Finally, Manchester Mystics (1-0) used a strong second half performance to see off City of Birmingham Rockets (0-1) 66-57.
CoB had led by as many as 15 points in the second quarter, but an improved performance on D after the break allowed the Mystics to limit their opponents to just 18 points in the second half.
That provided a platform for Irene Oboavwodyo (17pts, 6reb, 7stl) and Carina Costa (17pts 9reb) to lead the Manchester come back.
Brent defeat COLA pic.twitter.com/WkO4CyDbXi
— nbl fix (@nblfix) October 1, 2023
Loughborough Riders 61-57 Thames Valley Cavaliers - LIVE STATS / LIVE STREAM
Bristol Academy Flyers 54-61 Anglia Ruskin University - LIVE STATS
Barking Abbey 72-75 Reading Rockets - LIVE STATS / LIVE STREAM
Endeavour Ipswich Basketball 118-42 Team Solent Kestrels - LIVE STATS
City of Birmingham Rockets 57-66 Manchester Mystics - LIVE STATS / LIVE STREAM
Brent Bulls 67-62 CoLA Southwark Pride - LIVE STATS
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Main image credit - Endeavour Ipswich Basketball
