Women's BUCS Basketball Final 8's Day 2 Recap - Hoopsfix.com

Women’s BUCS Basketball Final 8’s Day 2 Recap

London South Bank University Women's Team

LSBU competed in the second semi final of the day

Following on from the Day 1 Recap of the Women’s BUCS Basketball Final 8’s, here is what went down on Day 2.

Game 1
Loughborough
University vs. Sheffield Hallam University
With Campbell out for the rest of the tournament due to her thumb dislocation, Loughborough were going to have to rally to beat the Sheffield team. Hallam came out with a 6-0 run, whereas Loughborough struggled to complete plays and get into a rhythm.

However it was the influence of Kara Dougall again, who changed the game,starting Loughborough’s scoring with a 3 ball. Dougall caused problems for Sheffield, forcing them to guard her tough on the perimeter which opened up scoring opportunities for team mates Ella Hewton and Abi Dempsey.

The score at the half was 34-29 to Sheffield.

Great rebounding from Loughborough’s O’Shea, in the third, kept Loughborough in the game going into the fourth. The fourth quarter remained close throughout as baskets were exchanged between Loughborough’s Dougall and Filipson and Sheffield’s Grima and Camp. Neither team could get the necessary stop and score to win the game, so the fourth quarter finished 52-52 and the game went to overtime.

Loughborough’s Dougall entered the overtime period and took the game by the scruff of the neck. She scored back to back lay-ups and a massive shot from down town which, combined with the exceptional defensive plays by Lindquist and Hewton, resulted in 7 unanswered points. Within 1 minute of each other, Dougall and Hewton both fouled out for Loughborough

Sheffield’s Grima and Camp got to the line due to foul trouble, which gave them the lead and ultimately gave them the win by 1 point, 60-59.

The tears and distraught looks took faces of the Loughborough team whilst the home crowd celebrated a great win for Sheffield Hallam.

Game 2
Northumbria
University vs. Brighton University
After tough defeats for both teams, Northumbria came out the most aggressively opening the game with 12 unanswered points primarily off the back of Ruth Davison and Ta’yani Clark. Clark again dominated the glass and was unstoppable on the offensive end. Both guards managed to pick up steals in the open court from the apparently nervous Brighton side and convert easy in transition. Once Brighton got on the score board it looked the game may be close pulling with 10, 18-8, but that would be as close as they got.

Northumbria stepped it up on both ends of the floor, using a lot more of there bench than on the Friday and cruised to victory. The game finished 86-36 and Clark filled the box score once more.

Semi-Final 1
London
Metropolitan University vs. Leeds Metropolitan University
Leeds Met started the game looking a little stunned as the sheer intensity of London’s defensive pressure halted some of their fast break opportunities. Leeds immediately looked inside to Loui Hall and London started to give up a few points. Attempting to double on Hall, London left Jo Clayden free to knock down open jump shots, the pair from Leeds kept the game with 3 in the first. In the second Leeds looked much more organised but failed to convert, leaving the game close, 34-29 at the half.

London’s Razanka created well off the dribble in the second half but Leeds responded as soon as they were pushed by London Met. A great interchange between Leeds’ Clayden and London’s Ghaninejad pushed the score up without either team pulling away. Leeds ultimately were too much for London and closed out the fourth to win the game and book their place in the finals,  with a 68-62 victory.

Semi-Final 2
UWIC vs. London South Bank University

UWIC looked organised from the beginning of the game, moving the ball very well, and using the full shot clock before knocking down an easy look. LSBU, after going down early in the game upped their aggressiveness and began to go hard to the basket, Rachael James able to get past her defender and distribute the ball.

Despite the aggressive play of LSBU, Coach Jennings was able to rest UWIC’s starters and still maintain their lead. There were a few points at which LSBU looked like they may be able to come close but the UWIC side had the luxury of dropping a couple of starters into the game to settle things and restore the lead.

South Bank really struggled against the length of Mia Spasowska as she cleaned up the offensive glass and displayed her skills going to basket on her way to 19 points in the game.

UWIC’s bench did a great job and the London team were unable to threaten the lead down the stretch. UWIC advanced to the final with a 77-66 win over LSBU.

Image Credit: Still Sport Photography

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