Sevenoaks Suns clinched a sixth victory in a row as they came from behind to beat the Durham Palatinates 77-66.
Shambria Washington led the scoring for both teams with 26 points on an efficient 55% shooting, whilst Araion Bradshaw contributed 16 points herself.
It was an even but strong start to the game, with both sides exchanging leads for much of the first quarter. As the period progressed, the visitors begun to get their rhythm offensively and managed to pull away as they closed on a 10-0 run. Durham forward Harriet Ottwill-Soulsby scored 12 of her 24 points to help them to a seven-point advantage.
As well as exchanging buckets, the two teams also exchanged turnovers to continue what had been a scrappy game. Neither team were able to produce a run to achieve any separation as the Palatinates maintained their lead. However, trailing by nine, the Suns scored seven successive points to get them right back into it. Their opponents went cold but put up points by getting to the line but the Suns retook the lead with five-and-a-half minutes to go in the second.
The game looked to be heading for a tie at half-time, but Bradshaw drew a foul just as the shot-clock expired, and she knocked down both free throws to give the hosts a slight lead.
A similar pattern emerged in the third, as Durham soon regained their lead, but the Suns hit back immediately in what was another scrappy, but well-fought affair. Washington scored another eight of her points as her team took a slender four-point lead to set up an exciting last ten minutes.
However, as the game entered its final stages, legs began to tire and the Suns took great advantage of this. An 8-0 run spearheaded by triples from Washington and Renee Busch gave them the separation they were looking for with the lead ballooning to as many as 15. The game ultimately petered out to a comfortable conclusion, the home side securing their eighth win on the season which has them third in the standings.
Focus now shifts to next week, when they host the Essex Rebels.
Author: Angelia Ronayne
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