WBBL Power Rankings 2020-21 edition - Week 8 - Hoopsfix.com
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WBBL Power Rankings 2020-21 edition – Week 8

By on February 24, 2021

It was a reduced week of action around the league as the quarter-finalists were confirmed in the WBBL Trophy.

Leicester Riders then became the first team into the semi-finals, while Manchester Met Mystics picked up two wins over the past seven days.

Latest results: WBBL Championship – Palatinates 53-78 Wildcats, Pride 86-81 Eagles, Rebels 90-102 Mystics, Eagles 61-72 Lions; WBBL Trophy – Archers 52-61 Wolves, Pride 64-90 Mystics, Riders 81-57 Wolves.

[denotes position from previous week]

➖ 1 [1]: Leicester Riders (5-0, 11-0)

Leicester continued their stronghold in the Trophy by moving into the semi-finals with an 81-57 home win over Oaklands in another dominant display. The Riders await the winner of Sevenoaks/Barking Abbey in the last four having won the competition three years running.

Kate Oliver posted 23 points, 12 rebounds and five assists with Holly Winterburn adding a similar 21-11-5 line, while Robyn Ainge had 12 points off the bench without a miss. Another meeting with Oaklands takes place on the road in the league, on Wednesday evening.

Next game: v Oaklands Wolves (A) – CH – 24th February

➖ 2 [2]: BA London Lions (4-0, 6-2*)

Barking Abbey maintained their unbeaten start to the league campaign, but were given their sternest test to date as they needed a strong finish to overcome Newcastle on the road. Shanice Norton scored eight straight points in a decisive spell that turned a 55-51 deficit into a 55-64 advantage.

Stephanie Umeh had 18 points and nine rebounds off the bench with Cassie Breen leading her side with 20 points and Kennedy Leonard dished out nine assists to go with 11 points and five steals. The Lions host an in-form Nottingham side having won their previous meeting by 20 points.

Next game: v Nottingham Wildcats (H) – CH – 28th February

➖ 3 [3]: Sevenoaks Suns (2-0, 6-1*)

A positive test for COVID-19 led to the postponement of the Suns’ highly-anticipated weekend double-header and they have made an addition in the meantime with the signing of Katrin Hulme, from WNBL D1 side Anglia Ruskin, who ended their season early.

Next game: v BA London Lions (A) – TRO – 3rd March

⬆️ 4 [5]: Nottingham Wildcats (5-3, 7-5)

The Wildcats powered their way to a third straight league win as they claimed a 25-point win away at Durham with Chelsey Shumpert flirting with a quadruple-double with an incredible 26 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and nine steals in the win.

Jasmine Joyner added 25 points, 13 rebounds and four assists, while Tia Freeman had 8-6-4 with the Wildcats still without Siobhan Prior, as well as Simone Costa. The reverse league fixture with the Lions takes place this weekend with a chance to hold onto second spot in the league, albeit with more games played.

Next game: v BA London Lions (A) – CH – 28th February

⬆️ 5 [7]: Manchester Met Mystics (2-2, 3-5)

Back-to-back wins for the first time this season for the Mystics as they enjoyed their road travels this past week. First, they saw off Caledonia for a big win in the Trophy before halting the charge of Essex with a 12-point league victory in a high-scoring encounter.

Georgia Jones poured in a WBBL personal best of 35 points along with eight assists against the Rebels, while Hannah Shaw and Sophia Song both top scored with 19 points in mid-week to help their side set up a quarter-final showdown with Newcastle.

Next game: v Newcastle Eagles (A) – TRO – 25th February

⬇️ 6 [4]: Essex Rebels (3-2, 3-3)

Essex saw their winning run in the league come to an end as they lost out to Manchester in a shootout on their home floor. Angel Waithe posted 32 points along with 10 rebounds and seven steals as all 90 points came from their starters.

Andrea Kohlhaas fired in 24 points having shared 10 triples with Ashleigh Munns in the contest, though Lucrezia Costa was held to seven points on 2-of-10 shooting. The Rebels are back at home at the weekend as they welcome Durham having recently won the previous encounter by 21 on the road.

Next game: v Durham Palatinates (H) – CH – 28th February

⬇️ 7 [6]: Cardiff Met Archers (2-1, 3-5*)

Any hopes of another cup semi-final this season were ended in mid-week for the Archers as they were unable to build upon their impressive league win over Newcastle. Mara Marchizotti and Shannon Hatch both recorded double-doubles as Cardiff fell to a nine-point loss at home to Oaklands.

Stef Collins’ side return to league action at the weekend as they look to complete a double over the Eagles following their recent late success.

Next game: v Newcastle Eagles (H) – CH – 27th February

⬆️ 8 [9]: Caledonia Pride (2-3, 2-4)

A mixed week for the Pride as they bounced back from a heavy defeat in the Trophy to see off Newcastle for their second league victory as Sian Phillips had two monster performances. First, 17 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and six blocks against Manchester before a 28/23 double-double along with six steals in the league win.

Pollyanna Storie weighed in with 20 points for Caledonia as they dominated the middle periods to help set up a five-point victory over the struggling Eagles. The Scottish side are back at home this weekend as they take on Oaklands with a chance to further climb the league standings.

Next game: v Oaklands Wolves (H) – CH – 28th February

⬆️ 9 [10]: Oaklands Wolves (0-4, 2-7*)

A first official win on the court for Oaklands came on the road in mid-week as they battled past Cardiff in the Trophy. However, their run was short-lived as they fell to a 24-point loss away at Leicester on Sunday to end their hopes in the competition.

Louise Rouse top scored with 15 points in the win over the Archers as four starters hit double figures for the short-handed Wolves. Greeta Uprus had 22 against the Riders with Lee Ryan’s side hoping for an improved performance against tough opposition when they meet again on Wednesday in the league.

Next game: v Leicester Riders (H) – CH – 24th February

⬇️ 10 [8]: Newcastle Eagles (1-8, 2-10)

Things are still no going the way of the Eagles as another league double-header ended in two more defeats that both could have been wins as they fall to a 1-8 record having played more games than any other side.

Alison Gorrell had 38 points in the five-point loss against Caledonia before adding 28-6-8 little over 24 hours later with Newcastle unable to hold on to their fourth-quarter advantage over BA as they eventually fell to an 11-point defeat that belied the true story. Despite their league struggles, a spot in the semi-final is up for grabs on Thursday as they entertain Manchester.

Next game: v Manchester Met Mystics (H) – TRO – 25th February

➖ 11 [11]: Durham Palatinates (0-3)

Another defeat for Durham as they were beaten by 25 points at home to Nottingham to drop to 0-3 in the league. Already down double digits at half-time, the Palatinates did win the third quarter by five to threaten a fightback, but their opponents pulled clear in the final period.

Kara Elderkin finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists in an all-round display with Lies Van Straaten leading the side in scoring with 14 points. Next for Durham, they have another game at home as Manchester make the trip further up north.

Next game: v Manchester Met Mystics (H) – CH – 27th February

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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