Riders joint top of the table after seeing off Cardiff and Durham
LEICESTER Riders women enjoyed two weekend victories in the WBBL Championship.
They beat Cardiff Met Archers 85-60 in Wales before returning home on Sunday for an easy 94-51 victory over bottom of the table Durham Palatinates.
Riders picked up their fifth win on the bounce as they ran out comfortable winners against the Archers on Saturday afternoon.
Leicester travelled to Cardiff knowing a win would secure their place in the play-offs, and Riders looked to do it in style as they flew out the gates with 29 points in the first quarter for a 14-point lead.
The Archers were looking for revenge after their eight-point loss to the Riders just under a month ago and made it a tighter affair in the middle two quarters as they cut into a sizeable Leicester lead to trail by just 14 with ten minutes left.
A convincing final quarter from the Riders saw them hold the Archers to only 10 points to run out comfortable victors.
Riders’ American guard Maya Brewer led all scorers with 18 points and Azania Stewart posted a double-double of 14 points to go with 10 rebounds.
American Amber Smith added 17 points and seven rebounds. Leicester finished the game with five players in double figures for points.
On Sunday at Loughborough University, Riders moved joint top of the table with the win over Durham.
Riders controlled the game from the start and were ahead by 12 points at half-time. Leicester continued their control in the second half, eventually winning by 43 points.
Riders scored a massive 35 points in the final quarter. GB international Holly Winterburn was in dominant form and finished with a game-high 27 points, while adding eight rebounds and four assists. Brewer just missed out on a double-double performance with 18 points and 9 rebounds.