Sevenoaks Suns returned to winning ways with an 80-66 victory over Nottingham Wildcats, following a dominant third quarter.
Led by Araion Bradshaw’s near triple double of 20 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, the Suns triumphed in a toughly contested matchup.
It was an accomplished display from Bradshaw on both ends of the floor, with her potent offense complemented by her sharp defence as she tallied three steals and forced multiple turnovers.
The first quarter was a tight affair, with both sides exchanging leads throughout. Renee Busch had a strong opening, scoring all eight of her points in a one minute burst, which helped extend the Suns’ lead to five and then seven following a Bradshaw layup. This came amidst a 12-0 run, which was finally ended by a trip to the free-throw line for Wildcats forward Imani Whittington. It was then the visitor’s turn to make a run, as nine straight points cut the first quarter deficit to just two.
A similar pattern emerged to start the second, with each team taking the lead and defending well. The Suns continued to score off turnovers, as they proved a menace for the Nottingham players with four more steals.
However, as hard as the hosts tried to create separation, the Wildcats kept replying to keep the game close. A pair of triples from Janice Monakana threatened to open a gap, but a late three from Kayla Shaw meant it was all to play for in the second half.
With a five-point lead at the beginning of the third, the Suns completely took over on both ends of the floor as they finally got a foothold on the game. A 15-2 run to open the second half extended the lead to 18, which soon reached as many as 26. The threat of the Wildcats was absolutely nullified as Sevenoaks played great team defence which powered their flowing offence. It was also a very efficient display as they shot 62.5% in the quarter.
Despite a lead of 26 with 10 minutes remaining, the game was far from over. The Wildcats came out strong and a quick 9-1 run was enough to cause slight concern in the home camp. The first field goal of the period for the Suns came at the seven-minute mark as Bradshaw converted from beyond the arc. Following this triple, Nottingham valiantly battled and managed to cut the deficit to 13 with just over three minutes remaining. However, the lead proved far too large to overcome and the Suns managed to hold out for a 16-point win.
This makes it four wins in five for the Suns, who clinched their 11th win of the season. Next up is a trip to Sheffield to face the Hatters as they attempt to make it 12.
Author: Angelia Ronayne
Comentarios