The Sevenoaks Suns returned to winning ways with a 70-80 victory at the Nottingham Wildcats.
Following elimination from the WBBL Trophy a week prior, the Suns got back on track thanks to big contributions from across the team, led by Araion Bradshaw’s 21 points and seven assists.
It was a hot start for the visitors, with the ever reliable Janice Monakana scoring her side’s first seven points. Defensively, they put the pressure on, allowing only four points in the opening five minutes, which helped open up an early advantage. The Wildcats quickly got within two with a pair of three-pointers, before a 5-0 Suns run to close the quarter extended the lead.
A couple of turnovers were committed by the Suns to open up the second, but they managed to trade baskets to keep their lead intact. A step-back three from Bradshaw stretched the lead to eight – the joint-largest of the game so far – with six minutes of the half left to play. Five points from Shambria Washington off the bench increased the lead further, before Renee Busch got in on the act with a three-pointer of her own. The Wildcats were left with a nine-point deficit heading into the break.
Offense took over in the third with a very high scoring period, which saw 47 points combined between the two teams. A couple of shots beyond the arc brought the Wildcats back into the game, as they trailed by just a single point with under four minutes remaining. However, the tandem of Bradshaw and Brittany Hodges contributed ten points to push the lead back up to eight before a pivotal final quarter.
Busch pushed the advantage to double digits with another triple to open the last ten minutes, but the hosts locked in defensively and went on a 13-0 run to give themselves the lead for the first time in the whole game. With three-and-a-half to go, it looked like the Suns may be staring at another defeat as the momentum had shifted towards their opponents. However, it was their turn on defense to shut out the Wildcats with an 11-0 run of their own to close the game and clinch the 10-point victory. Again, it was the duo of Hodges and Bradshaw who proved to be very important, as Washington also chipped in with a pair of free throws and a bucket to win the game.
This result improves the Suns’ record to 6-3, with focus now shifting to another road game, this time in Manchester to face the Mystics.
Author: Angelia Ronayne
