WBBL Power Rankings 2020-21 edition - Week 5 - Hoopsfix.com
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WBBL Power Rankings 2020-21 edition – Week 5

By on December 16, 2020

The WBBL Championship is underway with three teams off to winning starts as the action tipped off this past weekend.

Manchester Met Mystics, Nottingham Wildcats and Sevenoaks Suns were all victorious on the penultimate weekend of the calendar year with a short break ahead of 2021 coming up.

Latest results: WBBL Championship. Mystics 82-56 Eagles; Wildcats 65-46 Archers, Eagles 47-75 Suns

[denotes position from previous week]

➖ =1 [1]: Sevenoaks Suns (1-0, 5-0*)

Business as usual for the Suns in the league as they made a winning start to their campaign in comfortable style on the road against Newcastle. Cat Carr and Ta’Yani Clark led the way with typically all-round displays to power the Suns as the defence held their opponents to just 47 points.

Carr finished with a 22-5-8 stat-line and Clark had 14-9-6 with all 10 players on the scoresheet including Asha Andrews and Zulieka Franklin. Sevenoaks have now finished for the calendar year and will return to action in 2021 with a trip to Manchester in what could be an intriguing battle.

Next game: v Manchester Met Mystics (A) – CH – 9th January

➖ =1 [1]: Leicester Riders (4-0)

No action for the Riders this past week as their scheduled game with Oaklands was postponed, allowing them a week of rest following four straight Cup wins. They head to Nottingham this weekend having defeated the Wildcats by 13 when the two teams met last month.

Next game: v Nottingham Wildcats (A) – CH – 19th December

➖ 3 [3]: Nottingham Wildcats (1-0, 3-2)

Nottingham have a winning record to take into their encounter with Leicester at the weekend as they pulled away from Cardiff for an opening victory. Jasmine Joyner and Chelsey Shumpert combined for 32 points, while Simone Costa had eight points, eight rebounds and seven assists in the win.

The Wildcats did the damage with a 25-14 second period to open up a double-digit advantage by the break and there was no way back for the Archers. Still without Siobhan Prior, another success at the weekend would be a huge confidence boost going into 2021.

Next game: v Leicester Riders (H) – CH – 19th December

⬆️ 4 [6]: Manchester Met Mystics (1-0, 1-3)

The Mystics picked up their first win of the season in dominant fashion as they brushed aside a depleted Newcastle side by 26 points. Jeff Jones’ side came out firing on offence with a 30-point opening quarter before locking up their opponents to concede just seven points in each of the final two periods.

Georgia Jones top scored with 20 points and added six rebounds and five assists, while Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee dished out six of eight total assists in the opening 10 minutes. Helen Naylor and Rheanne Bailey also hit double figures and the Mystics will be looking for 2-0 when they visit Cardiff on Saturday.

Next game: v Cardiff Met Archers (A) – CH – 19th December

➖ 5 [5]: BA London Lions (1-2*)

The Lions are set to start their league campaign against a wounded Newcastle side on Sunday with a squad full of promise as the club looks to end their losing run having been 0-16 last season.

Next game: v Newcastle Eagles (H) – CH – 20th December

⬇️ 6 [4]: Newcastle Eagles (0-2, 1-4)

A tough weekend for the Eagles and they will already be looking towards the short break before the New Year. Newcastle were held to just 14 second-half points in their loss against Manchester and never managed more than 14 in a quarter at home to the Suns in back-to-back defeats of 25+.

Alison Gorrell top scored with 20 points on the road before being held to just six against Sevenoaks, while Mante Kvederaviciute did make a season debut in the loss against the Suns with 12 points in 13 minutes off the bench in a much-needed boost for their front-court options.

Abby Lowe and Molly Taylor both missed the weekend’s action with the Eagles short on numbers as they now prepare for another tough challenge in facing BA London Lions on Sunday.

Next game: v BA London Lions (A) – CH – 20th December

➖ 7 [7]: Oaklands Wolves (1-2*)

Still waiting for their first action on court, the Wolves were set to finally open their season against Leicester Riders last weekend, but postponed and will now start their season in 2021. Understandable frustration which was depicted by Lizzy Harrison in our recent feature, which you can read, HERE.

Next game: v Caledonia Pride (A) – CH – 3rd January

➖ 8 [8]: Cardiff Met Archers (0-1, 1-4*)

Cardiff lost all four quarters against Nottingham on their way to a 19-point defeat on the road, but were within four points in three of those periods. The Archers refused to give in and were left to rue a costly second quarter in their league opener.

Sarah Wagstaff top scored with 12 points on her way to passing 1000 WBBL Championship points – just the ninth player to do so in the league – and Kim Kheing added 10 points, though the Archers are going to need to increase their scoring firepower to be competitive this season.

Next game: v Manchester Met Mystics (H) – CH – 19th December

➖ N/A: Essex Rebels

(No current ranking due to not participating in the WBBL Cup)

The Rebels started announcing their 2020-21 roster with a number of returning players as well as European additions.

First game: v Newcastle Eagles (H) – CH – 10th January

➖ N/A: Caledonia Pride

(No current ranking due to not participating in the WBBL Cup)

First game: v Oaklands Wolves (H) – CH – 3rd January

➖ N/A: Durham Palatinates

(No current ranking due to not participating in the WBBL Cup)

First game: v Cardiff Met Archers (H) – CH – 9th January

All fixtures subject to change and according to official release.

*BA London Lions 0-20 Oaklands Wolves – WBBL Cup (COVID-19 regulations)
*Oaklands Wolves 0-20 Cardiff Met Archers – WBBL Cup (COVID-19 regulations)
*Sevenoaks Suns 20-0 Oaklands Wolves – WBBL Cup (COVID-19 regulations)

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