WNBL1 recap: 16/17 March - live streams, stats and more

Ipswich are D1W regular-season champions after this weekend's win over Bristol.

It is the Suffolk side's first title since 2020/21, and no doubt Ipswich will be hoping they can once again convert regular-season success into playoff glory.

The fight for the rest of the top-four seedings is continuing to entertain, and the pack of teams scrapping to make it into the eight playoff spots is as close as ever.

We take a look back at all the weekend's action below, with links to live stats and live streams at the bottom of the page.

Endeavour Ipswich Basketball (18-3) 85-72 Bristol Academy Flyers (8-13)

Ipswich have secured the D1W regular-season title following an 85-72 home win against Bristol.

Their crowning performance came with another fitting showcase from Harriet Welham, who has excelled all season long to play her part in Ipswich's success.

The former D1W MVP poured in a stunning 41 points as the only player for the hosts to reach double-digit scoring, adding nine rebounds, six assists and four steals to another stellar performance.

Louisa Gibbins (7pts, 12reb) and Danielle Cazey (9pts,) also played well as Coach Drane's side were able to get the party started and celebrate another well-deserved accolade.

Leila Jepson (20pts), Kim Kheing (15pts) and Mara Marchizotti (9pts, 16reb) all did their bit to keep the Flyers in the contest but fighting against a 32-18 opening frame, the visitors were always up against it.

Ipswich have sealed top spot with a game to go, taking the pressure off their final contest away to Loughborough ahead of what they hope will be a successful playoff run.

Bristol are still locked in a battle with Manchester and Anglia Ruskin for seventh, eighth and ninth despite this weekend's set back.

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Elsewhere this weekend

Loughborough Riders (12-8) were able to beat Barking Abbey (6-14) 67-57 thanks to 14-point, 13-rebound double-double from Alex Shaw to further reinforce their grip on fifth.

The clash between the bottom two went the way of City of Birmingham Rockets (4-17), though they needed a big final quarter to edge past Team Solent Kestrels (1-19) 70-62.

The Rockets entered the last trailing 50-46 but won the final frame 24-12 for their fourth win of the campaign. Grace Brownell led all scorers for CoB with 19 points.

CoLA Southwark Pride's (16-5) put an end to Reading Rockets' (10-8) recent hot form with a 56-53 road win to close Saturday's action as CoLA's Felicia Jacobs (19pts, 14reb) and Reading's Lindsey Cleary (18pts, 9reb) both went toe-to-toe.

CoLA tacked on a second win of the weekend yesterday as they stifled Anglia Ruskin University (8-11) 64-37, while Reading were able to bounce back as they beat Manchester Mystics (8-12) 69-50 behind 12 points, 20 boards and seven assists from Lindsey Cleary.

The top-four battle between Brent Bulls (15-6) and Thames Valley Cavaliers (15-5) went to the Bulls as they prevailed 63-46.

TVC's offence went missing in the second half, recording just four points in the third and nine more in the fourth as the Cavs squandered a double-digit first half lead.

Judit Fritz led the way for the hosts with 25 points, cancelling out 10 points apiece from Robyn Ainge, Helene Trailin and Dominique Mpesa.

This weekend's results:

Saturday 16 March

3pm - Barking Abbey 57-67 Loughborough Riders - LIVE STATS

3:30pm - Endeavour Ipswich Basketball 85-72 Bristol Academy Flyers - LIVE STATS

5pm - City of Birmingham Rockets 70-62 Team Solent Kestrels - LIVE STATS

6:30pm - Reading Rockets 53-56 CoLA Southwark Pride - LIVE STATS

Sunday 17 March

2:15pm - CoLA Southwark Pride 64-37 Anglia Ruskin University

4pm - Brent Bulls 63-46 Thames Valley Cavaliers - LIVE STATS

5:30pm - Manchester Mystics 50-69 Reading Rockets - LIVE STATS

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