Meanwhile in WNBL2, London All Stars are now the sole unbeaten team in the league with Cardiff City dropping their first game of the season.
Bristol Academy Flyers (6-0) remained unbeaten but were made to work hard, eventually leading to a narrow 86-82 win against Leicester Warriors (4-2) as David Thomas led the way with 27 points.
The Flyers have set the pace but not far behind are the Encon Derbyshire Arrows (4-2), who used a 32-22 first period as a catalyst for their 95-77 victory over the Teesside Lions (2-2).
Ibrahim Hamza was sensational as he hit a game-high 32 points to keep the Arrows pointing up in the standings.
Manchester Magic (4-2) stay in third as they made the long trip to Wales worth their while by edging Cardiff City (1-3) 79-77. Dan Davies (19pts, 8reb) top scored for the visitors, cancelling out a game-high 28 points from Charlie Ollis.
Despite playing fewer games than anybody in the North, St Helens Saints (3-0) are also undefeated, leaping into fifth spot in the standings with a crushing 86-55 win over Liverpool (1-5).
Elsewhere, Bristol Basketball United (2-2) secured their second win of the season with a deserved 95-77 win over Myerscough Basketball Academy thanks to 19 points from Tyrin Hollis.
And Dan Flaherty put on an offensive masterclass as he helped Cardiff Met Archers (1-4) off the foot of the table with their first win of the campaign.
Flaherty exploded for 43 points as the Archers toppled Worcester Wolves (1-4) 103-78 at the University of Worcester Arena.
Barking Abbey and Richmond Knights continue to battle for top spot in the South as both recorded hard-fought victories over the weekend.
Barking Abbey (5-0) narrowly beat neighbours London Elite (2-3) 71-69 behind 14 points each from Ethan Conway and Amarlie Wilkinson, while the Knights (5-1) also worked hard for their 91-88 success over Greenwich Titans (2-2). Gonzalo Rodriguez led the way for Richmond with 24.
Catching up to the top two are Team Solent Kestrels (4-0) who sent a strong message with a 104-57 hammering of Essex Rebels II (0-6).
Greg Durand paced Solent with 20 points, supported by 18 points from Russell Gariepy as Andre Arissol stuffed the stat sheet (15pts, 6reb, 10ast, 8stl).
To conclude the weekend’s action in the South, Westminster Warriors (2-3) claimed an 82-70 win over Endeavour Ipswich Basketball (0-5), NASSA (4-1) made the short trip along London to beat the Barnet Bulldogs (1-3) 97-72, while over in Cobham, London Stars (3-1) claimed a narrow road victory over the Scorchers (1-4) 76-72 thanks to 29 points from Ryan Martin.
With the WNBL2 teams in National Cup action on the Sunday, there was still a busy schedule of league games taking place to start the weekend.
In Pool II, London All Stars (4-0) remain the only unbeaten team in the division as they relied on a 37-14 second half to overcome Oaklands College Wolves II (3-1) 74-37 in a top-of-the-table clash.
Christina Welsh paced the All Stars with 18 points, supported by Josephine Maignomo’s 16.
Hemel Storm (3-1) remain in the top half of the standings as they recovered from a slow start to eventually dismiss Stevenage Royals (0-4) 56-44, as Ellie Maidman starred with 14 points.
London Elite (2-2) picked up their second win of the season with a strong 70-49 victory over Endeavour Ipswich Basketball II (2-2) and a 24-8 first period set the tone for the Thames Valley Cavaliers II (1-3) as they grabbed their first win of the season, beating winless London Thunder (0-5) 99-36.
There were only two games in Pool I over the weekend, as Cardiff City (3-1) remain top of the pile, despite losing their first game of the season, 63-51, to Bromsgrove Bears (3-1).
And 24 points from Lucy Rogan helped Liverpool (1-2) to their first win of the season as they beat Plymouth Marjon Patriots (2-2) 61-51 in the North West.
Bristol Basketball United (BBU) 97-75 Myerscough Basketball Academy
Liverpool 55-86 St Helens Saints
Bristol Academy Flyers II 86-82 Leicester Warriors - LIVE STATS
Encon Derbyshire Arrows 95-79 Teesside Lions
Worcester Wolves 78-103 Cardiff Met Archers - LIVE STATS
Cobham Scorchers 72-76 London Stars - LIVE STATS
Barnet Bulldogs 72-97 NASSA - LIVE STATS
Greenwich Titans 88-91 Richmond Knights - LIVE STATS
Essex Rebels II 57-104 Team Solent Kestrels - LIVE STATS
Barking Abbey 71-69 London Elite - LIVE STATS
Endeavour Ipswich Basketball 70-82 Westminster Warriors - LIVE STATS
London Thunder 36-99 Thames Valley Cavaliers II
Cardiff City 51-63 Bromsgrove Bears
Stevenage Royals Women 44-56 Hemel Storm
London All Stars 74-37 Oaklands College Wolves II
Liverpool 61-51 Plymouth Marjon Patriots Women
Cardiff City 77-79 Manchester Magic - LIVE STATS
Endeavour Ipswich Basketball II 49-70 London Elite
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All image credits - B.East Photography
Words by John Hobbs
