Leeds Carnegie shocked UWIC Archers with a 66-62 victory, while City of Sheffield Hatters hammered Sevenoaks Suns 64-41 in the EBL's top women's division this past weekend.

 

The first quarter at Carnegie saw Leeds come out to a flying lead with Jo Clayden's hot shooting and Loui Hall's inside presence.

 

Not to be outdone, UWIC's relentless attack on the glass continued to pay off and by the end of the first quarter they amassed an incredible two-to-one shot ratio due to their aggressive offensive rebounding, yet still trailed 26-20. 

 

The second quarter saw much of the same as UWIC continued their intense pursuit of the ball while Carnegie continued to work the ball inside out; unfortunately for Carnegie, the shots that were going down in the first quarter were failing to in the second.

 

A UWIC run from the third minute till the eighth erased the Carnegie lead, and capped off by back to back three point shots by Nikki Avery, UWIC was able to pull out to a three-point lead. 

 

The lead would have remained if not for a last minute three point shot by Hungarian Fanni Feher, which evened up the game and took the teams into the locker room level on 35.

 

In the 3rd quarter, the combination of Hall and Clayden continued to lead the Carnegie attack while UWIC found production from GB senior player Steph Collins and GB under-20 Avery. By the end of the period it was clear that neither team was going to pull away and the crowd was in for a fantastic fourth quarter with the visitors 50-49 ahead. 

 

The fourth period is the time for the leaders to show what they are made of and for UWIC, Kate Butters certainly led by example. Starting the quarter off scoring six straight points, Butters began to assert her will over the game, scoring on mid-range jump shots and second chance point. 

 

For Carnegie, back-to-back three point shots were hit by Velkey and Hayward keeping them in the game and helped negate the Butters-led charge.  

 

Finally, the combination of Hall and Tate began were too much as the two combined for the final 11 points of the game, including a deep three from Hall with the shot clock winding down.

 

UWIC coach Damian Jenning was magnanimous in defeat:

 

"Leeds can be proud of their win today. Through Hall, Clayden and Tate they made the shots needed at key times. Their sit-at-home 2-3 zone did disrupt and caused issues for our less than satisfactory day beyond the arc.

 

"I have no doubt that our battles with Leeds Met will not finish today and we look forward to the next encounter."

 

Leeds coach James Bambury said: 

 

"Today was a great day for the Leeds Carnegie Basketball programme. Both our men's and women's Division One teams were able to pull out wins in front of a rocking crowd against some of the very best competition that either league has to offer. 

 

"As for our women, we played together as a team and it represented what we have been working towards since the beginning of the season. Our team came out hungry and focused; every single member of our team played their part in practices as well as on the floor and on the bench. 

 

"UWIC is an incredibly good team and I know that this win is only that, a single win, and we need to keep getting better each day if we hope to continue to put in these types of performances. 

 

"Big shots were hit by Clayden, Velkey and Hall, but perhaps the most important play of the game happened on the defensive end when Charlotte Levitt put her body on the line and took that charge in the fourth quarter. I would like to thank the fans for a great atmosphere and I would encourage any fans of basketball to continue to come out to our games and I know they will only continue to get better."

 

Sheffield Hatters were made to work hard for their 23-point victory against Sevenoaks Suns, with the teams tied at 11 going into the first break. An 18-4 second period put the hosts in control, and they extended that by a 15-12 second quarter.

 

Led by 17 Helen Naylor points, Hatters wrapped up the win with a 20-14 fourth period, but Suns coach Len Busch was still in a positive mood after the game:

 

"I was very happy with our defensive effort. To hold Sheffield to 64 points is an achievement. With six of our ten players under-18, and two of those starting, we have to be proud of their effort. 

 

"The best thing we took from the game is that we can play with the teams at the top of Division One. If we can find a way to score more points and avoid the bad stretch such as four points in the second quarter we'll be OK. 

 

"The players are starting to realize that the experience we gained last year, winning only one game in D1, coupled with the improvement in our young players such as Renee Busch and Femi Hamilton is making this year a completely different situation."

 

Oaddams finished with 16 for Hatters with Lisa Hutchinson adding 11. Arek Deng and Kristine Lewis each hit 12 for Sun with Renee Busch adding nine.

 

 

Nov 7 2009	City Of Sheffield Hatters	64	v	41	Sevenoaks Suns
4.30pm
Nov 7 2009	Team Northumbria	70	v	62	Barking Abbey View stats
2.00pm
Nov 7 2009	Leeds Carnegie	66	v	62	UWIC Archers
2.00pm
Nov 7 2009	Birmingham A's	47	v	101	Nottingham Wildcats
2.30pm