Hendershot leads Durham to BUCS Championship win over Essex

By Bradley Gains on March 20, 2024

Image credit: BUCS Sport

Elle Hendershot produced an insane statline to lead Durham to an 88-67 victory over Essex to win the BUCS Championship.

The American finished with 34 points, 25 rebounds and eight assists in an incredible display as Durham avenged their overtime loss from the 2022 final.

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Katie Bennett added 17 points and 11 assists with five steals, while Sophie Klassen also had 17 points as the WBBL trio all put in full 40-minute performances.

Box score.

Essex had come out firing with two quick threes from Kat Tudor as they established a 26-20 lead after 10 minutes. However, Durham turned things around in the second with the Bennett-Hendershot combo starting to take control before the latter hit a three at the buzzer to put their side up 39-34.

The duo combined for all 14 points early in the third as the gap moved into double figures, and scores from Klassen and Izzy Wood helped Durham into a 15-point advantage at 63-48.

Tia Freeman – who had a team-high 20 points for Essex – netted a fourth triple early in the final quarter as they cut the deficit to 10, but could not get any closer. Durham continued to score at key times and Bennett sealed the win with a three to set up the jubilant celebrations at the buzzer.

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