Two weekend wins, but Riders overtaken at the top

LEICESTER Riders women picked up another pair of wins but still managed to drop to second in the WBBL Championship as Sevenoaks Suns took over top spot.

The Kent side played four times in five days to use up their games in hand, and won each one, against Cardiff on Wednesday, Oaklands on Thursday, Caledonia on Saturday and Cardiff, again, on Sunday.

Their eight-point haul has knocked Riders off the top, and has left the title-chase tight, with a three-way tie on 28 points, although Sevenoaks have still played fewer games than both Riders and third-placed London Lions.

First up at the weekend for Riders was a comfortable win on the road against bottom-of-the-table Durham Palatinates, 80-47.

Neither team could get on top in the first quarter, which finished with the scores level on 18 points.

Riders then raced into a comfortable lead, as superb defending restricted the hosts to just 14 points over the second and third quarter combined.

By halftime, Riders were well on top 45-24, as they outscored the home team 27-6 in the second quarter.

The Riders had five players reach double figures for scoring, including 17 from centre Amber Smith, and 10 from former GB International Azania

Stewart, who managed a doubledouble as she also grabbed 12 rebounds.

Holly Winterburn pulled down eight rebounds, scored seven points and made five assists in a wellrounded performance from the GB guard.

Durham’s Claire Paxton also put in a double-double performance, as the Palatinates captain scored 17 and she also pulled down 10 rebounds.

At home on Sunday, Riders were dominant in an 88-50 win over East Midlands neighbours Nottingham Wildcats.

The first quarter was tight with Riders edging it 17-13.

But Riders’ defence strangled the

Wildcats in the second period as they held the visitors to just six points while scoring 26 points to give themselves a 43-19 lead at halftime.

The Wildcats regained their composure in the third quarter which Riders edged 22-21, but Riders turned on the style again in the final quarter.

Riders shot very well from beyond the arc, hitting 12 of 24 three pointers, while Nottingham managed just two from 14 attempts.

Riders defence held the Wildcats shooting to just 31 per cent, while they got 28 points from their bench to just two for the visitors.

Holly Winterburn was sensational with 21 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Hannah Robb hit four of six three pointers on her way to 21 points.

Ella Clark and Maya Brewer also both hit three three-pointers from five attempts for Riders.