WNBL1 recap: 19/20 October - live streams, stats and more

Week four of this season's D1W is now in the books, with plenty more interesting results to enjoy.

Last season's fifth and ninth place finishers, Loughborough and Manchester, are the league's only two undefeated teams at 3-0, whilst Reading and Barking are still searching for their first victory after slow starts.

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

Endeavour Ipswich Basketball (2-1) 78-71 Anglia Ruskin University (1-2)

Endeavour Ipswich Basketball bounced back from their recent loss to Thames Valley with a hard-earned 78-71 W against Anglia Ruskin.

In what is always a great contest between these two sides, this weekend's clash was no exception, as the reigning regular season champs came through with a single-digit win thanks in part to double-doubles from Maddy Wormald (24pts, 12reb) and Louisa Gibbins (21pts, 17reb).

ARU were on the hunt for an upset, leading by as many as 10 points midway through the third quarter. A 57-47 ARU advantage would quickly become 58-57 Ipswich though, with the hosts reeling off 11 unanswered points to even out the game once more.

From there, the game swung back and fourth in the final quarter but it was the hosts who would break a 69-69 tie with 2:19 remaining to hang on for a valuable win.

Ruskin's Izzy Booth (15pts, 10reb), Tia Freeman (18pts, 11reb, 5ast) and Ilaria Zaffaroni (20pts, 4reb, 4ast) all did their part to try and topple the Suffolk side, but would ultimately come up just short.

Result aside, ARU have no doubt given plenty of food for thought to the rest of D1W that they are retooled and looking dangerous in 2024/25.

Both teams now hit the road for their next outings, with Ipswich heading to Reading next Sunday, whilst ARU remain on their travels as they test themselves against Manchester Mystics.

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Ipswich's Molly Wormald came up big for her side this weekend (Richard Leach)

Elsewhere this weekend

Thames Valley Cavaliers (2-1) picked up their second win of the season with a narrow 79-72 victory against Reading Rockets (0-3).

Reading looked like they could be good for a first win of the season after they flipped a 15-point third quarter deficit into a five point advantage early in the fourth, but the Rockets couldn't hold on as TVC regrouped to snag back the W.

Yassin Belle-Mbaye (21pts, 9reb) came up big for the Cavs in the absence of captain Kat Goldsby, with former Rocket, Sante Moonie, chipping in 16 points and six boards against her old club.

Alicia Guerra-Rainford led the way for the Rockets, she had 19 points.

Worcester Wolves (1-2) grabbed their first W of the new season, as they beat fellow newly promoted side Cobham Cobras (1-2) 66-63.

A 23-8 third quarter broke the game open for the Wolves behind 21 points from Carolina Marques and 18 more from Nina Wallace. Cobham tried to fight back with a 24-12 fourth, but it would just be in vain despite 22 points from Katie Richards.

Brent Bulls (2-1) had no problems getting past Bristol Academy Flyers (1-2), winning at a canter 89-44.

23-10 after one became 59-22 by the half as Brent led this one for almost the full contest, powered by Vanessa Akra's 18 points, 11 rebounds and six steals.

Manchester Mystics (3-0) stayed unbeaten as they handed another loss to Barking Abbey (0-3), coming through 66-33.

Rehana Khalil's 24 points on 69% shooting made a big difference as BA were restricted on offence, only making it to double digit scoring in two of the four quarters.

The Mystics also nabbed 24 steals across the contest, as Megan Verbeeten (11pts) was the only Abbey player to make a real dent on the score board.

Sunday's only game didn't disappoint as Loughborough Riders (3-0) made a statement, handing defending playoff champs CoLA Southwark Pride (2-1) their first loss of the new season, 68-65.

Ayla Habbal had a couple of looks at a triple in the closing seconds but neither would drop, allowing the Riders to stay unbeaten behind Melissa Leet's 11-point, 11-rebound double-double.

That cancelled out a strong performance from CoLA's Chandera Jones-Aryeh, who was close to a triple-double on 18 points, nine assists and eight boards.

Bristol's Mara Marchizotti couldn't help the Flyers find a way past Brent this weekend ( B.East Photography)

This weekend's results:

Saturday 19 October

3:30pm - Endeavour Ipswich Basketball 78-71 Anglia Ruskin University - LIVE STATS

4:30pm - Thames Valley Cavaliers 79-72 Reading Rockets - LIVE STATS

5pm - Worcester Wolves 66-63 Cobham Cobras - LIVE STATS / LIVE STREAM

5:30pm - Bristol Academy Flyers 44-89 Brent Bulls - LIVE STATS

6pm - Barking Abbey 33-66 Manchester Mystics - LIVE STATS

Sunday 20 October

1pm - Loughborough Riders 68-65 CoLA Southwark Pride - LIVE STATS

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Main image credit - Flo Alalade