Battle for WBBL Championship heats up in final month of calendar year

The final month of the calendar year has begun with the battle in the WBBL Championship beginning to heat up.

Essex Rebels celebrated their first win in the WBBL after outlasting Newcastle Eagles for a thrilling 103-90 victory in overtime. Jessy Ward fired in a 36-point haul, while DeAngelique Waithe added a further 32 points along with 12 boards as the Rebels took the extra period, 16-3.

Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters and Manchester Mystics maintained their strong starts with road wins to keep up the pressure on the league leaders.

Alison Gorrell scored 19 points to move Sheffield to 7-1 as they beat Caledonia Pride 67-87, while November Player of the Month, Evelyn Ovner fired in 25 points in a 61-82 success for the 6-1 Mystics over Oaklands Wolves.

Sarah Wagstaff produced a big performance for Cardiff Met Archers with 36 points in their 68-74 road victory at Durham Palatinates. The Archers doubled their win tally having come through the overtime period to deny the home side.

Meanwhile, Sevenoaks Suns continue to lead the way in the WBBL Championship after they moved to 7-0 with a 73-40 success over Newcastle as Janice Monakana top scored with 17 points.

Leicester Riders are not far behind at 5-1 after Holly Winterburn netted 24 points in a convincing 87-65 victory against Nottingham Wildcats, who drop to 4-2.