Category: WBBL

Leicester Riders won their second straight against Newcastle Eagles, and fourth straight in the Championship, dominating wire-to-wire to emerge 90-75 victors. 

Star guard Taylor O’Brien set the tone with her scoring early, and stayed hot throughout to go off for 29 points and 11 rebounds. She led the Riders scoring for the second straight game, matching up well against the Eagles. 

She was backed by Sam Ashby and Marissa Hamilton, who both put up 15 points. Hamilton went 5-5 from three in the game, torching the Eagles from deep. 

The Riders shot 50% from the field and 45% from three in an efficient scoring display.

They also won the rebounding battle 48-42, as Rayven Peeples dominated the glass to grab 16 rebounds on the game. 

Newcastle struggled from deep throughout, shooting 15% from three against the Riders’ stifling perimeter defence. Leading scorer Tierra Hodges put up 23 points, but it wasn’t enough to lead her team to a win. 

O’Brien started the game aggressively. She scored the Riders first two buckets to take the lead, stringing a pull up from midrange and a floater off the dribble. The American guard led the game in the quarter, which Leicester led throughout. 

They were up by as much as seven, but the Eagles stayed in the game with the score 23-19 at the buzzer. A rainbow floater from Newcastle’s Lauren Saiki concluded the quarter’s action.

Back-to-back threes from Hamilton blew the game open, putting Leicester up nine in the second. The Riders held the visitors at arm’s length at the half, riding the hot hand of Peeples who followed up her frontcourt teammate with drives to the rim in the pick and roll. 

With 2:25 left in the quarter, O’Brien’s three gave the hosts their biggest lead of the evening at 38-26. Her corner three brought the Riders’ lead, and her points total, to double digits. The Eagles responded with a 5-0 run, and the sides entered the locker rooms with the Riders up 40-33. 

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Triples from Hamilton and newly named All-Star Ashby rebuilt Leicester’s lead to start the second half. Ashby then attacked the hoop, followed by O’Brien, to make the score 56-37 halfway through the third. 

Hamilton’s hot hand continued to punish the Eagles. She drained her fourth triple to make it a 20 point difference. It was a lead they took into the fourth, after finished the third with a three from the top of the arc to make it 74-50. 

The final period was a formality, with the Riders having done the groundwork in the third quarter to set up a comfortable finish. Athena Thompson got to the hoop late, the 15 year old scoring her first points in the Women’s British Basketball League. She finished up with 6 points in the final quarter. 

The Riders are back in action on March 2, hosting the Oaklands Wolves.

Get tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/leicester-riders-womens-v-oaklands-wolves-2nd-march-tickets-801096911427?aff=oddtdtcreator 

The Riders fell 57-41 to the London Lions in the WBBL Playoff final. 

They remained in touching distance until the fourth quarter, keeping the Lions off the scoresheet effectively. A second-half surge from the league winners saw them complete the clean sweep of silverware this season. 

Fiona O’Dwyer led Leicester’s offensive efforts with 10 points, hitting key shots throughout to keep her team in contention. It was a one-point game midway through the period, but London found their offensive rhythm late on. 

London’s Ty Battle was named Final MVP, putting up eight points and a dominant 15 rebounds.

The Riders made it a defensive game early, keeping London’s offensive sets in the halfcourt and keeping them to one possession by crashing the glass. They built a lead with their physical play, O’Dwyer’s three making it 8-4 after four minutes. 

After missing a lot of their early looks from range, the Lions attacked the paint to bounce back. Ty Battle’s back-to-back buckets kickstarted a 13-0 London run midway through the first.  

Battle’s free throws ended the quarter with London up 19-10. 

The Riders fought back to start the second. Hannah Robb put on the moves in the post, breaking Holly Winterburn’s ankles to cap off a 10-2 run. The run cut the game to one: the Riders back in the tie. 

The Lions regained control of the tie, ending the half 10-3, but the Riders were within touching distance going into the locker rooms led by seven from O’Dwyer. 

In a low-scoring third, London edged ahead. It was a 6-2 period in London’s favour after seven minutes, and the game went without a score for five of those. O’Dwyer hit a three near the end of the third to give the Riders an outside chance at the comeback.

But London came storming out the gates in the final quarter, starting  5-0 to jump out to a 19-point lead. They saw the game out professionally from there, taking their lead to the final buzzer to win the Playoff title. 

The game concludes the Riders 2022-23 season. Thank you for your incredible support all year. 

The Riders are set to face off against the London Lions in a final for the third time this season. Making three finals in a season is a franchise record for the club, but they hope the third time is the charm in this one to take some silverware back to Leicester. 

Road to the final 

After finishing third in the league standings with a 17-5 record, the Riders were faced with two opponents standing between them and the O2 Arena. 

The first was the Essex Rebels, who played the Riders to an overtime classic. They entered the fourth down 10, but back-to-back threes from Fiona O’Dwyer kicked off an inspired comeback. 

Ashley Arlen and Oliana Squires won it at the free-throw line at the end of overtime, progressing them to the semi-finals against the second-placed Caledonia Gladiators. 

This one was more straightforward, as the Riders dominated a 19-point road win against their Scottish contemporaries. 

Squires led the game with 25, but it was their defence which won them the day. Leicester held the Gladiators to 30% shooting from the floor, and outrebounded them 39 to 30 in the win. 

Familiar foes

These teams are well-versed in competing at the top level of domestic basketball. They have faced twice this season in finals, the Lions coming out victors on both occasions. 

The first was a tough outing for the Riders. The Lions dominated the WBBL Cup final, winning 95-42 led by Final MVP Holly Winterburn’s 16 points and nine rebounds. 

Squires’ attempt to inject rhythm into the Riders’ offence resulted in a game-high 23 points, but the game was never in doubt. 

The WBBL Betty Codona Trophy final was a different matter. The Riders had the game within five points midway through the fourth quarter thanks to a finish at the rim by Hannah Robb. 

Lions’ American forward Ty Battle responded with six straight to see the game out, but the Riders will take confidence from being in the game late, minutes away from winning the Trophy. 

It took a monumental 33 points from Lions’ GB star Mikiah Herbert-Harrigan to win it. The Riders were led by 22 points and 14 rebounds from star forward Arlen.

Key matchup 

Arlen enters this game on a high, having been named to the WBBL Team of the Year earlier in the week. 

The American forward averaged 14.7 points and 8.1 rebounds this season, shooting 42% from the field, and has continued to demonstrate her elite abilities in the postseason. 

Arlen put up 18 points and 14 rebounds in the Riders’ overtime victory over the Essex Rebels in the quarter-final and 12 in the semi-final against the Caledonia Gladiators. The Riders’ will need a performance like the Trophy final from their frontcourt. 

Facing up against Arlen and vying for her second final MVP of the season is Herbert-Harrington. “Kiki” started her post-college career in the WNBA, where she was drafted sixth overall in the 2020 draft by the Minnesota Lynx.

She finished her rookie season playing in 21 games averaging 3.8 ppg and shooting 42.2% from 3. The next season, Herbert-Harrigan signed for Turkish basketball Team Kayseri Basketbol before singing in London this year. 

Herbert-Harrington led the Lions this season with 18.7 points and 5.2 rebounds a game, her points tally ranking second in the WBBL. The Riders will have their work cut out to slow her offence down. 

Where to watch

The game is live on Sky Sports and on their youtube channel, starting at 1:15 pm. It will take place before the BBL Playoff final, also between the Lions and Riders. 

Ashley Arlen has been named to the Molten WBBL Team of the Year!

The American forward averaged 14.7 points and 8.1 rebounds this season, shooting 42% from the field. She led the team to third place in the WBBL Championship standings with a 17-5 record.

Her season high was 25 points and 11 rebounds came on the season opener, and was one of seven double-doubles the Iowa native put up this season.

Arlen has continued to demonstrate her elite abilities in the postseason. She had 18 points and 14 rebounds in the Riders’ overtime victory over the Essex Rebels in the quarter-final and 12 in the semi-final against the Caledonia Gladiators, which saw them advance to the final in the O2 Arena.

Congratulations Ashley!

The Riders fell just short of their fourth WBBL Trophy win, losing 81-70 to the London Lions. 

They pushed the Lions wire to wire, cutting the game to five with six minutes remaining. Star forward Ashley Arlen led the Riders’ effort with 22 points, and an eight-point start to the fourth quarter from sharpshooter Hannah Robb made it a game late. 

It took a monster 33-point effort from former WNBA player Mikiah Herbert-Harrigan to beat Leicester. It was the record for the most points in a WBBL Trophy final, and a well-earned final MVP performance from the brit.

The Riders got off to the perfect start. They scored six points from their first two possessions and edged the early lead through five minutes thanks to threes from Oliana Squires and Arlen.

London found their offensive rhythm in the final stages of the first, jumping out to a 15-8 advantage. Fiona O’Dwyer stemmed the Lions’ run four points to close the quarter, but London scored five points in the last 22 seconds to make it a 10-point game after one. 

The Riders came storming back into the tie in the second. O’Dwyer got the second quarter underway from the midrange, getting her sixth points of the afternoon, an eight-point explosion from Arlen made it a one-score affair. 

The Lions made attempts to rebuild the lead, getting it back to eight, but the Riders found responses throughout the quarter with big shots dropping from Arlen, O’Dwyer and Robb. 

40-36 was the score in London’s favour at halftime.

It took a minute and a half for the Riders to take their first lead since early in the first. Robb followed up Arlen’s midrange jumper with a three, making it 41-40. 

The Lions jumped out to a double-digit lead with 10 points from Herbert-Harrigan. The Riders stalled the Lions progress mid-quarter, and Mckenzie Johnston made it a 10-point game going into the fourth.

Robb took over the opening stages of the fourth to chip into the deficit. She scored seven points in four minutes to make it a five-point game with six to play. 

But the Lions closed the game out stronger, and the Riders could not get over the crest to win it.

The Riders take on the London Lions in their second WBBL final of the season, battling for the Betty Codona Trophy. 

It would be the fourth time the Riders have lifted the Trophy, most recently in 2020. 

Season so far: Riders

The game is a first vs second clash, as the Riders currently sit a place from the top spot in the WBBL Championship. They possess a 12-2 record and are level on points with their final opponents. 

They’re an efficient outfit, ranking top four in field goal, free throw and three-point percentage, and dominate the defensive boards, ranking second in the league. 

Ashley Arlen leads the scoring for the team this season, putting up 16.1 points per game. The veteran forward’s eight rebounds a game leads the team also, as she leads the front line for Leicester. 

The Riders will look for a big game from Arlen in this one! 

Season so far: Lions 

The league-leading Lions hold a 12-1 record this season and enter this one on a three-game winning streak.

They’re the league’s top scorers, putting up 95.6 points per game, 12 points more than the second-highest scorers. But last month, the Caledonia Gladiators came up with a winning formula against the Lions with a 68-67 road win. 

It was the first domestic defeat for London in two seasons after the Riders beat them in April 2021. 

The Lions won the previous meeting between the sides in the WBBL Cup final, taking home the first piece of WBBL silverware of the season. 

Since then, London have seen a change of personnel in the head coaching role, with Greek international Stella Kaltsidou taking the helm. It remains a tough test for the Riders as they go for the trophy. 

Road to the final: Riders

The Riders fought through three games to reach the final, winning them by an average of 30 points.

They started their campaign against the Oakland Wolves, winning in a dominant 104-55 fashion. Oliana Squires led the game with 24 points in a game the Riders held the lead since early in the first quarter. 

The quarter-finals was a hard-fought 54-44 win against the Caledonia Gladiators. The Riders held a one-possession lead going into the final quarter, but a 7-0 run to start the fourth allowed them to jump out to a double-digit lead, which they held until the buzzer. 

They took a trip to the North East for the semi-final, as they booked a place in the final with a 91-63 win against the Newcastle Eagles. Kirsty Brown’s 18 topped the team’s scoring tallies, as Leicester went 15-16 from the free-throw line to dominate the Eagles. 

Road to the final: Lions

The Lions progressed through the Trophy’s three rounds thus far confidently, dismissing the Brent Bulls, the Cardiff Met Archers and the Sheffield Hatters

.Paulina Hersler’s 25 points led a first-round win against the Bulls, as the Lions took a 98-42 win. They forced 33 turnovers from their opponents with suffocating defence. 

The Lions then beat the Archers 104-55, led again by Hersler who scored 20. Hersler went 9-17 from the field, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked three shots, dominating inside. 

Lions’ duo Mikiah Herbert Harrigan and Holly Winterburn took over the semi-final with 26 points each, blowing out the Hatters 112-77. London went just 3-14 from three and still dominated the game, making 45 field goals. 

Where to watch

The game will be shown live on Sky Sports, and the Sky Sports Youtube channel. 

Tip-off is at 1 pm, with coverage starting at 12:30 pm. 

Ashley Arlen has been named the WBBL Molten Player of the Month for Febuary!

The Iowa-born forward has averaged 21 points per game in a 3-0 month for the Riders, including a 24-point game against the Cardiff Met Archers.

Arlen leads the table-topping Riders with 16.3 points per game on their way to an 11-1 record.

“Winning player of the month is always a great recognition, mainly for the club and the team,” said Arlen.

“I’ve always said there’s no such thing as an individual award in basketball, so all credit goes to the team and coaches for putting me in a position to succeed and be at my best.

“Febuary was a great month for the team, and we hope to keep building on it for the rest of the season!”

The news comes after head coach Krumesh Patel was named the Molten WBBL Coach of the Month, making it a Riders double!

Congratulations Ashley!

Head coach Krumesh Patel has been named Molten WBBL Coach of the Month for Febuary! 

The Riders went 3-0 during the month, including convincing 30-point victories in the WBBL Championship against the Oakland Wolves and the Cardiff Met Archers. They currently top the WBBL Championship table with an 11-1 record. 

“The award is nothing without the staff and players. They deserve all the credit,” commented Patel.

“I am happy that their success over the month has been rewarded, and I’m lucky to have this group of people around me!”

Congratulations coach!

The Riders fell a game short of a second BBL Cup title, losing to the London Lions 95-42 in the final. 

Oliana Squires led a valiant Riders’ effort against an established European outfit, but could not prevent the Lions from lifting the trophy for the second straight year. She led the game with 23 points, giving everything on the court. 

Young GB star Holly Winterburn was awarded Molten Final MVP, putting up 16 points and eight assists. Every Lions player got in the scoring column in a complete team performance, led by 19 from Mikiah Herbert Harrigan. 

Squires got the Riders on the board to start the game, knocking down three free throws after being fouled from behind the arc. 

Squires scored eight points in the first five minutes, getting off to a hot start. However, two early threes from the Lions’ Katsiaryna Snytsina helped London to an early 16-10 lead. 

Squires continued her first quarter clinic, getting Holy Winterburn off her feet with lightning-quick handles before laying in a tough finish. She scored 10 of the Riders’ 15 first-quarter points, keeping them in the tie. 

Beth Sarson got the Riders on the board in the second period, cutting the Lions’ lead to seven. But London responded with seven straight to extend their advantage. 

The Riders chipped into their deficit midway through the second, as Ashley Arlen put up four straight to make it a 13-point game. London then hit back-to-back threes courtesy of Winterburn and Mikiah Herbert Harrigan to reclaim the points. 

The Lions rode their momentum to close the half, going on an 8-0 run to go up 20. They went into the locker rooms with the score 48-26 in their favour. 

Squires continued her scoring form in the second half, driving to the hoop to draw a foul a minute in. But the Lions won the first five minutes of the third quarter 12-4, getting to the free-throw line effectively. 

The Lions rode their momentum to close the half, going on an 8-0 run to go up 20. They went into the locker rooms with the score 48-26 in their favour. 

Squires led the Riders in the quarter with five points, hitting a three with a minute left, but they held a 38-point deficit with a period remaining. 

Arlen got the fourth underway with a finish inside, as the Riders showed heart to start the final quarter 5-0, following a three from Squires. 

The Lions saw the game out comfortably, becoming the first team in WBBL history to win multiple BBL Cups. 

The Riders are set to take on the London Lions on the big stage, as they fight for the BBL Cup in the Utilita Arena Birmingham. 

Riders look to beat the undefeated

This game features the top two sides in the WBBL this season, as the 8-1 Riders face the 9-0 Lions. The Riders’ only defeat this season came against London, but they look to tie the season series on their way to much-desired silverware. 

Leicester are fighting to reclaim their BBL Cup title from two seasons ago against last season’s quadruple winners. The winner of this one will become the first WBBL side to lift multiple BBL Cups. 

This will be no small task for the Riders, as they attempt to be the first side to beat the Lions domestically since they got the better of them on April 24 2021. 

Bossing the boards

The Riders’ success this season has come on the glass, as they pull down the second most rebounds in the WBBL and the most defensive rebounds. Not allowing second possessions has been key to the eight-game winning streak they take into this one. 

They’re led in this department by former Cup Final MVP Ashley Arlen, who is averaging 8.6 rebounds per game. The Riders have four players grabbing at least six rebounds per game, as gang rebounding has dominated the paint for this physical Riders side. 

Rebounding’s importance will be emphasised in this one, as the Riders face the league’s most efficient shooters in the Lions, who shoot at a red-hot 47.8% from the field this season. Leicester won’t be able to afford to give the ruthless Lions’ offence extra chances in the game. 

Key matchup

Oliana Squires has been in hot scoring form over recent games, averaging 14.2 points over her last four fixtures. She put up a season-high of 26 against the Caledonia Gladiators earlier in the year and has averaged 15.7 points per game in the league thus far. 

The American guard is a first-year pro, having spent four years of college at Montana State. There, she averaged 11.3 points and 1.7 steals, scoring 20 points four times as a junior. 

Squires is a shifty guard, using her agility and handles to find space at the rim or outside, where she can knock down shots effectively. She is shooting 56% from two and 34.7% from three this season, getting it done at all three levels.

Taking on Squires in the backcourt from London is former Rider Holly Winterburn, the three-time WBBL young player of the year. The British guard is putting up 15 points per game in the league this season in her second Lions year. 

Winterburn is one of Britain’s top prospects and was named to the WBBL British Team of the Year on the last three occasions. She is a GB international and won the WBBL Trophy Final MVP last season after a 16-point effort. 

Winterburn is a professional scorer and is elite at slashing to the basket and getting points in close. Her three-point shots keep defenders honest, and finds her teammates open for buckets often, averaging five assists per game. 

Expect fireworks between these two guards in this one.

Where to watch

The game, taking place at Utilita Arena Birmingham, tips off at 12 pm on Sunday, January 29. It will be televised live on Sky Sports and streamed live on the Sky Sports Youtube channel.

After the game, the BBL Cup Final takes place between the Riders and Lions, tipping off at 3 pm.

Read our preview here!

Riders host Sevenoaks Suns on Saturday 4th March at the Morningside Arena, and we’re calling on the support of the Riders nation to help break the WBBL attendance record!

This International Women’s Day game is expected to sell out quickly! Students can secure a ticket for just £5!

You can secure your tickets below:

Forward, Ashley Arlen has been named in the ‘Top 3 Ballers’ in the WBBL on The BBL Show podcast alongside London Lions, Kiki Herbert-Harrigan and Shanice Beckford-Norton.

Arlen joined the Riders this season after a successful three-year spell at the Nottingham Wildcats and professional experience in Romania, Germany, Spain and Australia. Arlen now leads the Riders’ side as team captain.

After 3 games in the WBBL Championship Arlen has amassed an impressive 18.3 PPG, 2.0 BLKPG, 16 FGM, 7 3PM, 7.7 DRPG – putting her in the league’s top ten across multiple stats.

The Riders will take on the Gladiators on Sunday, 23rd October before hosting the Archers on Saturday, 29th October. You can secure your ticket to home games here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/loughborough-basketball-17898741247

The Leicester Riders are delighted to announce the addition of Irish International forward Fiona O’Dwyer to their WBBL roster for the upcoming season. 

Originally O’Dwyer was set to play with the Gloucester City Queens however their decision to withdraw from the league has meant she will now make the switch to the Riders.

O’Dwyer is no stranger to the WBBL as she spent two successful seasons with Team Northumbria between 2014-2016 before going on to play in Italy, Spain and Greece over the past 5 seasons.

Last season with Niki Lefkadas in the Greek A1 league she averaged 13.1ppg, 9.3rpg, 2.3apg & 1.4spg as well as competing in the EuroCup.

Her signing and versatility will give the Riders further options across both forward positions. She has a very rounded game being known for her tough & fierce defence but also with the ability to score in a multitude of ways.

“I am excited to return to the WBBL and play for the Leicester Riders. It’s a great opportunity for me and I’m looking forward to meeting the team and starting the season.”

Coach Krumesh Patel is delighted at his side’s latest acquisition.

“It is great to have someone of the calibre and history as Fiona join us. She brings a wealth of experience and leadership with her, which will be invaluable to her teammates. She will allow us to be creative with our rotations and brings a totally different type of skill set that has proven to be effective for her in her career. I’m really excited to have Fiona on board at the Riders.”

 The Riders open their season tomorrow night against Essex Rebels at 7pm at Loughborough University, to book your tickets click here it will also be live on the WBBL youtube page.

Leicester Riders are pleased to announce the addition of guard Jess Eadsforth-Yates to their roster for the rapidly approaching WBBL season.

Eadsforth-Yates had been expected to be competing for the Gloucester City Queens in the upcoming season, however, a change in circumstances has seen her now sign with the Riders while also studying for her masters at Loughborough University.

She will be no stranger to the Riders set-up or Head Coach Krumesh Patel having previously spent time playing for him while at Charnwood College.

A four-year college stint in the US and last season playing at the Newcastle Eagles have preluded her return to the East Midlands, where she is now eager to get started.

“I am really excited to be back playing for the Leicester Riders, this is like a second home to me. The fact that I get to play under Krumesh and Oli again just adds to my excitement. The girls have been very welcoming and I believe we have a really strong group this year, we are all eager to get started.”

Head Coach Krumesh Patel is delighted to link up again with one of his former players:

“I have gone full circle with Jess, having coached her at Charnwood College. To see her do well over in the states was very rewarding and having the chance to bring her back to study for her masters and coach her again is great. She will fit into the group well, she has good speed and a great ability to shoot. Her ability to play defence up the floor gives us another option and dimension. I am delighted to have her back as a Rider.”

In an unrelated move, the Riders have parted company with forward Jade Compton. The club would like to thank Jade for all her hard work and commitment during her time with the Riders and wish her the very best with her future endeavours.

Riders women will travel to Sweden for some preseason games. This will be a great opportunity to play some high-quality teams for the women and continue their preparation for the WBBL opener in a few weeks!

The first game will be on Thursday when they face Sodertaile. Sodertaile are one of the top teams who return the Elderbrink Sisters and Louice Halvarsson who have been major players in Europe and the Swedish national team to add to Klara Lundqvist already in the team. They are also coached by former Riders coach Jesper Sundberg.

On Friday, they will travel to play last year’s playoff champions Norrköping, in which it will be another tough game against one of the best. They return a lot of the core plus a few additions and also the return of Swedish national team guard Lovisa Hjern.

Finally, on Saturday Riders will play Boras, a team with good experience and a few fresh faces led by Paula Julin and Elin Ljunggren.

It will be a great and tough experience for a new-look Rider’s team, but something they will embrace and use to fuel the fire for the upcoming season!

Leicester Riders are pleased to announce the addition of Beth Sarson to their WBBL roster ahead of the 2022/23 WBBL Season.

Sarson will be a familiar figure within the league having made over 120 appearances across all WBBL competitions during her four seasons with the Oaklands Wolves and one season at the Essex Rebels. 

Last year with the Wolves she averaged 9.6ppg, 4.6rpg, 3.3apg &1.9spg in WBBL Championship action and she will add invaluable experience and depth to what will be a very new look Riders backcourt.

“I’m really excited to join the Leicester Riders for the 2022/23 season! I have always loved the way Leicester play and the way Krumesh coaches, so I am thrilled to get the chance to be part of it. I cannot wait to get on court with such a talented group of players and coaches.”

Krumesh Patel is pleased with his side’s latest addition:

“It is great to add Beth to our roster. She is a great teammate, very coachable and comes with good references. She has proven to be a very solid player in the WBBL and has a good stroke from the outside. She will fit in well with the squad and is another British player that really wants to keep developing her game.”

Leicester Riders are pleased to confirm that GB U18 forward Erin Powell will step up and be part of their roster for the upcoming WBBL Season.

Powell is set to start her second year at Charnwood College having averaged 10.3ppg & 13rpg in the WEABL last season where she was voted Northern Conference U17 Player of the Year. She also made 15 appearances for the Loughborough Riders in WNBL D1 last year.

Powell looked set to be part of the GB U18 team playing in the European Championships in Sofia this summer but unfortunately, a late injury saw her replaced in the squad.

Powell is excited at the prospect of playing WBBL:

“I am super excited for the new season and really looking forward to playing for Coach Krumesh. I’m preparing my best both mentally and physically to succeed. I’m looking forward to meeting and bonding with the new team. It will be great to experience a higher level of basketball as I strive to improve myself as much as possible throughout the season”

Coach Krumesh Patel is looking forward to seeing Powell progress:

“It is always important to support the pathway for younger players. Erin has demonstrated great growth and being with the WBBL squad will allow her to continue that. She had a great summer and impressed the GB coaches. We are looking forward to having her with us because she has a great work ethic, and we are excited to see her continue to grow and develop.”

The Leicester Riders are pleased to announce a further addition to their WBBL roster for the 2022/23 WBBL Season with the signing of 6’3” US/Scottish forward Kirsty Brown.

Brown joins the Riders after graduating from Cal Poly where in her senior year she averaged 8ppg, 6.5rpg & 1.1bpg.

With good size, Brown will give the Riders extra strength in the 4 and 5 positions where her post play and wingspan will be of benefit at both ends of the floor. She has the ability to score inside and from midrange as well as being a tenacious rebounder and disruptive defender.

“Leicester felt like home from the first phone call I received. I am so excited and grateful to be given the opportunity to play in England. I can’t wait to meet my teammates and staff and look forward to becoming a part of the community. Let’s get to work on bringing home a championship. Go Riders!”.

Head Coach Krumesh Patel commented:

“It is really nice to be able to add Kirsty to our team as she is something we were missing. Her size and length will fit in well alongside Ashley. She is mobile and quick which will allow us to play in the style that we want to. She’s another player on this roster with ambition and the drive to keep pushing. I think she will be a great fit for this group”.

The Leicester Riders roster for the 2022/23 WBBL season continues to take shape as the club are pleased to announce the signing of US guard Oliana Squires.

Squires will begin her pro career with the Riders after a four-year college career with Montana State where in her senior year she averaged 11.3ppg, 3.2apg & 1.7spg.

The Colorado native joins fellow new signings Jade Compton & McKenzie Johnston in signing a 2-year deal to combine playing WBBL alongside studying for a masters at Loughborough University.

“It has been a dream of mine to play professionally, and I am so incredibly thankful for the opportunity to play basketball again. I am happy that I have found a team and coach that believe in me and will help me succeed. I look forward to getting back on the court again and having a great season with the Leicester Riders.”

Head Coach Krumesh Patel believes Squires will be a terrific addition for his team:

“Oliana is a great fit for us. She is someone with something to prove. She’s a dynamic guard that can pass and score, so that will complement the other members of our backcourt. She just has a great feel for the game and her personality will fit in perfectly with the Riders.”

With preparations well underway for the 2022/23 WBBL Season, the Leicester Riders new Head Coach Krumesh Patel has put the finishing touches to his staff.

He will be ably assisted throughout the coming campaign by three assistant coaches: Kiran Wiltshire, Oli Parr & Nick Moodey.

Kiran Wiltshire is well known within the Riders set up having previously worked for the club for ten years within the Riders Foundation.

She completed her level 3 coaching alongside fellow Riders coaches Krumesh Patel & Will Maynard and has coaching experience with the University of Leicester where she has coached both the Men’s and Women’s 1^st Teams.

Coach Patel is delighted to have Kiran join the staff:

“I have known Kiran since I was 14, so to have her with us is great. She has a tone of experience in multiple areas and will be a great person for the players to have around“.

Oli Parr re-joined the club last year as an assistant coach to then Head Coach Marg Jones. He will continue to assist the WBBL team as well as becoming the Head Coach of the Loughborough Riders Women’s Division one team.

He had previously been with the Riders programme for 4 years from 2016 where he advanced from assisting at Charnwood College to leading multiple teams at both the Academy and National League level as well as assisting the WBBL team.

Coach Patel is looking forward to working alongside Oli again.

“I worked with Oli for 4 years and it was an easy decision to have him on the staff. He has developed his coaching a lot and will be a great asset to us for the coming season“.

Nick Moodey will continue as WBBL Assistant Coach having held the same role for previous coaches Jesper Sundberg & Marg Jones. He will also be taking up the position of Women’s Charnwood Academy Head Coach.

Nick is another who has progressed his way through the Riders coaching pathway. Started out in 2018 coaching the Loughborough Women’s 3rd BUCS team and helping with coaching at the Leicester Riders Foundation. In 2021 he was appointed Loughborough Women’s 2^nd BUCS Head Coach and Head Coach of the Loughborough Riders Women’s Division one team.

Coach Patel sees Moodey as an important cog in the Riders wheel:

“Nick was great for the programme last year and will be a good link between the WBBL and Charnwood. He is a growing coach and we’re delighted to be part of his development journey “.

Backing up Coach Patel and his assistant coaches will be additional support staff consisting of:

Sam MacGregor – Physio

Jack Clarke – Strength & Conditioning Coach

Adam Collins – Nutritionist

Sara Svoboda – Sports Psychologist

Sanne Hofman – Team Manager / Operations Manager

Managing Director Russell Levenston commented

“We have a great WBBL staff team this year who will help to take our programme to the next level. We continue to provide a high performance, professional environment where our professional women’s players will be able to thrive”.

Leicester Riders are pleased to announce the signing of US combo guard McKenzie Johnston ahead of the 2022/23 WBBL Season.

Johnston has signed a 2-year deal to play WBBL alongside studying for her masters at Loughborough University.

The exciting guard had a stand-out college career with Montana where she got 1398 points and 515 assists, ranking her 7^th and 4^th in the program’s history. In her final year, she was voted onto the First-Team All-Big Sky Conference as she led her team in points and assists while being second in boards and steals.

Her pro career was slightly delayed due to covid but last season she played in Germany with Bad Homburg helping her side to promotion while averaging 12.7ppg, 6.1rpg, 5apg & 2.6spg. She shot 58% from the field and 38.5% from three as she finished second in the league for assists and sixth in steals and efficiency.

“I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity to go to England and play for the Leicester Riders! The coaches & staff have been nothing but welcoming. Coming off a championship in Germany, it has me excited to get back on court again. I’m very eager to get to work and achieve big things with the team this season.”

Coach Krumesh Patel is delighted to add the latest piece to his team’s roster:

“I’m really excited to have McKenzie join us. She had an excellent college career and then was in Germany last year winning a championship and leading her team to promotion. That sort of experience will be great for us as a team. After speaking with her, I knew she would be a great asset to us and fit in with the style I want this team to play”.

Everyone at the Leicester Riders would like to wish good luck to Hannah Robb as she prepares to take part in this summer’s Commonwealth Games.

Having played for Scotland at every level from U13’s to the senior national team the GB guard is excited to represent her country at a major games, as she competes in the 3×3 basketball which debuts at this year’s games.

Although only 24 years of age Robb has vast experience with over 140 WBBL games under her belt in 6 seasons, amassing upwards of 1200 points in the process.

She will be joined on the Scottish team by London Lions star guard Kennedy Leonard, Caledonia Pride’s Sian Phillips and former Rider Claire Paxton who steps up to take the place of another former Rider Erin McGarrachan who played during the qualifying wins over Wales and Northern Ireland.

Good luck Hannah!

The Leicester Riders continue to build their roster for the 2022/23 WBBL season with the signing of US wing Jade Compton who joins on a 2-year deal while also studying for her masters at Loughborough University.

Jade is a 5’10” forward who is known for playing hard at both ends of the court. She is an efficient scorer with the ability to shoot from the perimeter, as well as being a versatile defender and an aggressive offensive rebounder. This will be her first pro season as she is fresh out of Presbyterian College where last year she averaged 16.2ppg & 6.9rpg shooting 54% from the field and 37% from three.

Compton is excited to get started:

“First and foremost I would like to thank God. He continues to bless me with new opportunities to show my capabilities. My support team is forever strong and I love it. I’m excited to be joining the Leicester Riders and can’t wait to make something special with my new team. The sky is the limit. Let’s go Riders!!”

Coach Krumesh Patel added:

I’m really pleased that we have managed to get Jade to join us. She has good size and the ability to stretch the floor, she’s also a tough defender who can guard multiple positions. She is coming off a good Senior year with Coach Sharp and we’re excited that she has decided to join us for her rookie season. After good conversations, she has great ambitions which is something we are looking for in our players and we’ll do our best to help her achieve her goals.

The Leicester Riders are delighted to announce that Great Britain guard Hannah Robb will again be part of their roster for the upcoming 2022/23 WBBL Season.

Robb will embark on a seventh season in the WBBL and a third with the Riders, having previously been a key member of their 2020/21 WBBL Cup winning side.

In the WBBL Championship, last season, her all-action game saw her average 11.5ppg, 6.6rpg, 5apg, 2spg as she was named her team’s Defensive Player of the Year.

“I’m really excited to be back for another year with the Riders! It’s a great opportunity for me to continue to grow individually and with the team. I’m looking forward to working with Krumesh and I’m hoping to use my experience to help take the team to the next level. I can’t wait to get started.

Coach Krumesh Patel sees her as a key component in his new lineup:

“It’s a great signing to have Hannah continue with us at the Riders as she has been a standout player for the club over the past couple of seasons. Her ability to stretch the floor is going to be vital for us. I have been lucky enough to work with her at GB Under 20’s and I’m really looking forward to having a full season of coaching her. She is a very motivated and driven individual and just the sort of character we want to push us forward. I’m hopeful that we can help her to continue adding to her game development and to see her grow and thrive throughout the season”.

Leicester Riders have begun preparations for the 2022/23 WBBL season with the signing of former League MVP Ashley Arlen (Harris).

Arlen will be well known within the WBBL from a successful three-year spell at the Nottingham Wildcats where she comfortably averaged a double double in each of her seasons, finishing with an average of 21.3ppg and 11.2rpg across her stay in the East Midlands as well as securing both League and Cup Final MVP honours.

After taking a break and becoming a mother, Arlen returned to pro basketball last year, signing, for now, Riders coach Krumesh Patel at Swedish side Wetterbygden Sparks where she averaged 14.8 ppg and 7.9rpg.

With professional experience in Romania, Germany, Spain, Australia as well as the UK, Arlen will bring invaluable expertise and leadership to what will be a much-changed Riders roster this term.

“I am beyond thrilled for the opportunity to be back in England and playing for the Riders! Last season playing under Krumesh in Sweden was a fantastic opportunity and I knew playing another season for him was something I wanted to do. I am excited to get to work with the team and hope that my experience and love for the game can help us achieve big things this season”

Coach Krumesh Patel is equally excited to continue his working relationship with Arlen:

“I’m really excited to have Ash back in the WBBL. It was nice to have her on the team in Sweden and she did an excellent job considering she had been out for 3 years after having Amaia. I think she will be a tremendous addition to our side as she is a proven scorer and after seeing her last season, I know she still has more to give. She has great leadership qualities, so I am delighted to have her join the Leicester Riders

Further signings will be announced shortly.

Krumesh Patel will be rejoining his hometown Club as the head coach for the WBBL Riders team and the Loughborough University 1^st Team on a three-year Contract. 

Patel has spent the last two years in Sweden as the head coach of the Wetterbygden Sparks. Prior to his stint in Sweden he played a major role in the Riders organisation. After graduating from the University of Leeds, Patel spent nine years at the club starting as a community coach, Head of Academy and then the Head Coach for the WBBL team. In 2018-19 Patel led the WBBL, WEABL and U18 youth programs to a 48-6 record, winning many National Championships including the WBBL Trophy and WEABL.

On his return to the Riders and journey over the last two years, Patel commented: 

“I’m Excited to come back home, it’s been a great couple of years in Sweden! I was able to experience a new style of play against some good teams and coaches so it was a great move and allowed growth. I also had the privilege to meet and work with some really good people which am grateful for and will continue to build on those connections and relationships.”

“A chance presented itself to come back, and the timing was right with other factors falling in line to allow this opportunity to occur.”

“After speaking with Russell, the opportunity to comeback to help move the program forwards and build towards Europe in the long term was extremely appealing!”

Patel finished saying “to be back in my hometown around familiar faces, friends and family is a great feeling.”

Managing Director of the Leicester Riders, Russell Levenston Commented: 

“It is great to have Krumesh return to the club. He was instrumental in building our Women’s programme and we look forward to him returning to take the programme to the next level. He is a very experienced coach who knows our club really well and I believe he is the right person to lead the Riders Women’s programme over the next three years.” 

“He has gained some really valuable experience over the last few years while coaching in Sweden and I believe we are getting an even better coach than when he left two years ago. We both have similar ambitions for the Women’s programme both on and off the court”

Patel’s immediate focus will be to look at recruitment for the 2022-23 season and utilise the off-season months to build the Women’s programme ready for pre-season training starting in August.

Marg Jones, who started the season as Women’s Head Coach for the Riders Charnwood Academy, seamlessly stepped in to lead the Riders WBBL programme after the departure of Derrick Washington. Jones brought her vast coaching experience to the WBBL side and led the team through the regular league season to the 2022 play-off quarter-finals against Nottingham Wildcats.

On her reflection of the 2022 season, Jones said:

‘’I’m very proud of the successes of the Women’s program this season, both from a team and individual athlete perspective. The team finishing 4^th in the league, in what proved to be one of the most competitive seasons in WBBL league history, was a huge accomplishment.’’

In what can only be described as a challenging start for Jones due to coming in part way through the season, her positivity and developmental focus towards women’s basketball saw Charnwood Academy and Loughborough University students integrated into the fold and cohesion formed in a top-down club approach.

‘’Like all teams, we faced adversity through Covid and untimely injuries and of course this was compounded by the early season coaching change. The athletes responded to each challenge with positivity and professionalism and should be extremely proud of their accomplishments.’’

‘’I am appreciative of the opportunity to have led the Riders Women’s program this past season and will be working closely with athletes and staff to build a succession plan for the 22-23 season.’’ – Marg Jones

In conjunction with taking the reins of the WBBL side, Jones also stepped in as Head Coach for the Loughborough University’s Women’s BUCS 1^st team. The team finished their BUCS campaign in the play-offs semi-final against Essex.

Managing Director Russell Levenston commented “ I’d like to thank Marg for stepping up and taking on a really important role for us this season. Her passion for the game has really helped us move the women’s programme forward and she is leaving our WBBL and University women’s programme in a much better place than she found it. Marg will now work with the team and new coach to lay the foundations for the future. “

The Leicester Riders would like to thank Marg for taking on the WBBL Head Coach role with short notice and stepping up at a time when the programme needed strong coaching leadership. The club would like to recognise the hard work that has gone into the 2021-22 season WBBL campaign and the passion that Jones brings to the WBBL and `Riders Women’s programme. More announcements to follow, about who will take over the reins for the WBBL and Loughborough University team.

Sunday’s action saw the Riders take on the Nottingham Wildcats in the first round of the WBBL Playoffs in a win or go home thriller. Both teams fought valiantly and it was the Wildcats who prevailed 81-69. The Riders showed tremendous effort throughout. 

Both Oceana Hamilton and Hannah Robb had 19 points. They were a two headed monster for this Riders team as Hamilton owned the paint on both ends and Robb, who poured in jump shot after jump shot. 

From the start, Nottingham came out hot behind a flurry of long range shots and smothering defense. Nottingham continued throughout the first half on this pace, though the Rider’s defense held the Wildcats to 17 second quarter points in comparison to the first quarters’ 27. 

As the Riders headed to the locker room for half time they trailed 44-28. With their season on the line, the Riders came back out as a team on a mission. They won the third quarter 25-11 to bring the lead to 53-55. For a team that trailed by 19 at one point, their ability to rally and re-enter this game was the antithesis of the heart this team plays with. 

Nottingham was able to rally in the fourth and beat the Riders 81-69. Though their season is over it was far from a failure. When asked about the season head coach Marg Jones said this…

“The league has demonstrated a tremendous amount of parity this season and for our young team to finish top 4 in the standings is a testament to the determination, perseverance and hard work of the players” 

Even though the outcome was not what they had wished for there are no heads down in the Rider’s locker room. They are proud of the basketball they played and played down to the last buzzer. 

Personally, I’ve followed this team for a while and they played this season with passion. Their unselfish identity, defensive versatility and intensity accompanied by a never give up mindset. The Riders had a fantastic season and I can’t wait to see them come back with the same heart next season. 

Congratulations to the Nottingham Wildcats for advancing to the next round of the playoffs, and congratulations to the Riders who played a fantastic season. 

Match report written by Rob Field.

The weekend saw the Riders take on the Sevenoak Suns and Cardiff Met Archers on back to back days. On Friday the Sevenoaks Suns outlasted the Riders with a 62-42 win, but the Riders bounced back on Saturday to defeat the Cardiff Met Archers 88-58.

Against Sevenoaks the Riders struggled from the field, only shooting 22%. Though it should be mentioned that the Rider’s signature defense held the Suns to only 37% from the field. 

The Riders found themselves just behind the Suns throughout the whole game, despite three Riders scoring in double figures they just couldn’t manage to find the bottom of the basket. Three Suns also scored in double figures but they found themselves edging the Riders out and winning the game.

Against the Archers the Riders learnt from their loss. Scoring over double the points they scored against Sevenoaks. They were led by Makana Stone who had 21 points and 7 rebounds. Combine that with beautiful all-around games from the rest of the team and you have the blueprint for a convincing Riders victory. 

They maintained their defensive intensity and used that momentum to propel their offensive games to new heights. When the Riders play like they did on Saturday, they’re near unstoppable. 

Key difference-maker Hannah Robb had a monstrous starling of 7 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists and 7 steals! The Riders were clicking on all cylinders. The Riders beat the Archers in every hustle stat. Including 25 bench points to the Archers 9. It was clear from the first quarter that the Riders would have control of the game. 

If this weekend’s action proves anything for this team is that they can learn from their mistakes and always bounce back. Though as the playoffs loom ahead the Riders are going to have to lock in and be the team we know they can be. 

The Riders continue to keep their heads held high. Sitting with a 14-8 record they hold the 4 seed and are definitely a team to look out for come playoff time. Keep the energy up ladies.

Match Report written by Rob Field

Monday Night’s action saw the Newcastle Eagles take on the Leicester Riders at home. This game was defined by defense and hustle from both sides as both teams gave it their all. The Riders were led by Oceana Hamilton (21 Points, 12 Rebounds) and Anna Lappenküper (15 points, 8 Assists).

Immediately after the game started the Riders came out strong, opening with a 19-4 run in the first 6 minutes of play. The Riders were able to use their size advantage to attack the paint behind the dynamic duo of Makana Stone and Oceana Hamilton. The Riders closed out the first quarter leading 20-9. 

In the second quarter, the Rider’s defense was phenomenal, so good in fact the Eagles didn’t score a single field goal into the final seconds of the 2nd quarter. However, the Eagles did find themselves at the foul line quite consistently and managed to score 12 points in the second. 

However, behind a stellar first half from Anna Lappenküper, the Riders scored 26 second quarter points to extend their lead to 25 as they entered halftime 46-21. 

Coming out of halftime the Eagles came out very strong, matching the Riders blow for blow in a contested third quarter. However, behind their early lead, the Riders managed to hold on to their 25 point lead as the fourth quarter approached. 

In the fourth, the Eagles came back quickly attempting to close the lead. Team captain for the Eagles Marina Fernandez Pardo had a quick 10 points in the fourth and cut the Rider’s lead down to a 10 point deficit with 2 minutes left to play.

The Riders were able to bounce back and hold off their opposition as they held them scoreless in the final minutes to hold them off and win the game. The Riders closed the game out with a 75-65 point win. 

Once again the Riders excelled behind their team play with 4 players in double-digit scoring numbers. Their defense was once again locked in and despite the Eagle’s best efforts came out with the win to bring their record to 13-7 on the season. 

Match report written by Rob Field.

Saturday’s action saw the Leicester Riders take on the Nottingham Wildcats. It was a stellar contest headlined by Leicester’s two-headed monster of Oceana Hamilton (22 points, 8 rebounds) and Hannah Robb (21 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds) who led the way to the win despite Wildcats’ Brooklyn Pannell pouring in 33 points. 

In the first quarter, both teams struggled to gain a lead over the other, going back and forth throughout the first. Oceana Hamilton and Makana Stone both came out quickly for the Riders as they managed to come out of the first quarter with a 19-17 lead.

The second quarter commenced and the Riders began to gain some momentum. Led by Louise Rouse (16 points off the bench) and Hannah Robb came alive to spark some offense. The Riders used their stellar team play on both ends of the floor to climb to a 45-35 point lead going into halftime. 

Coming out of halftime the Wildcats were looking to close the gap and slowly crawled back into the game. Even taking the lead 61-60 with a minute left to play in the third. However, the Riders rallied and came back to take a 64-61 lead with only the fourth quarter remaining. 

As the fourth quarter commenced the Riders looked locked in quickly going on a 6-0 run over the first 3 minutes of play. After establishing a comfortable lead the Riders were able to keep the Wildcats at bay as they held them to only 17 points in the quarter compared to 27 points of their own. 

The Riders edged out the Wildcats to win 91-78. Once again the Riders won as a team with 5 players scoring in double figures and extending their record to 12-7. It was a great game and a great win.

Match report written by Rob Field

Sunday’s 5pm action saw the Leicester Riders taking on the Essex Rebel’s at home. It was an intense back and forth battle but ultimately the Rebels came out on top despite the Riders best efforts. 

Star Performers for the Riders include Brooklynn McAlear-Fanus with 16 points and Oceana Hamilton who stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points and 12 rebounds. The Riders excelled on defense and used their size advantage to dominate the paint, but it was the perimeter shooting of Essex that allowed them to pull ahead and take the win. 

In the first the Riders looked dominant. Springing ahead to a quick 16-6 lead halfway through the first. Essex, however, were able to gather themselves and over the next 5 minutes bring the game back to only a 5 point deficit, 30-25 lead for the Riders as the first quarter closed. 

The second quarter wasn’t very pretty for the Riders as they went scoreless for the first 5 minutes. However, they were able to rally behind their full-court pressure leading points off of turnovers and scored 16 points in the last 5 minutes of the first half. 

However, their drought in the first half of the quarter allowed Essex to gain momentum and take the lead in the half. At Halftime Essex leads by 3, 49-46.

Coming out of halftime both teams seemed rejuvenated on the defensive end, both teams fought for good looks and whenever a team would manage to score it seemed the other would come down and answer with a bucket of their own. 

Despite the best efforts of Makana Stone and Oceana Hamilton in the third Essex managed to hold onto their lead as they entered the fourth quarter ahead by 2, 63-61. 

In the fourth both teams continued their heated battle. But behind Essex’s Ashleigh Munns’ stellar performance from behind the three-point arc, Essex had brought their lead up to 6 with 2:20 left to play, 78-72. 

The Riders called a timeout and came out swinging, behind clutch mid-range shots from Hannah Robb and Anna Lappenküper brought the game within 2 points, but another Ashleigh Munns three-pointer put the Riders down 6 with a minute left to play. 

The Riders were forced to intentionally foul and free throws from the Rebels kept their lead at 6 points with 22 seconds to play. The Riders brought the ball down and Makana Stone hit a clutch contested three with 6 seconds left to play bringing the lead down to 3, but it proved too little too late as they were forced to foul and the Rebels put them away at the free throw line. Essex wins 84-80.

An unfortunate loss for the Riders who were right at the brink of taking this game, but unfortunately there’s only so much time on the clock and Essex were able to outlast the Riders. Phenomenal effort from the Riders women as they look to bounce back against the Wildcats on April 9th. 

Match report written by Rob Field.

The Leicester Riders took on the Durham Palatinates in a tight, back and forth contest which saw the Riders losing 85-70 after they were unable to answer the second half run of the Palatinates. 

The Riders were off to a quick start in the first, behind good efficiency and a balanced scoring effort they managed to gain a quick lead whilst holding the Palatinates at bay with their stellar team defense. 

The Riders shared the ball well as they attacked the rim. Their team coordination gave them an edge and their first quarter efforts put them up 21-14 as they entered the second quarter. 

The Palatinates opened the second with a run of their own. They came back to tie the game up 29-29 with 4 minutes left to play in the second. In those last 4 minutes, Alison Lewis put up 6 points and a three point dagger by Brooklynn Mcalear-Fanus to close the half put the riders up 34-39. 

The third quarter commenced and both teams were looking to make their move to take and maintain a lead. The Palatinates came out quick and tied the game up, both teams took turns going back and forth with the lead. 

If the Palatinates hit a three, the Riders would come down and match it with one of their own. However, the Palatinates pulled ahead in the last 2 minutes of the third to put them up 61-56 behind a flurry of three point shots. 

Going into the fourth a quick Makana Stone layup and Alison Lewis 3 pointer tied the game up with 8 minutes to play in the fourth. Both teams again took turns fighting for the lead and tied the game 3 more times in the fourth. 

Both teams went scoreless from the 5 minutes mark till the 3:30 mark when the Palatinates began a scoring onslaught to take a commanding lead and finish the game strong. They were led by Goretti Hurtado Barbeito who had 25 points and Katie Bennet who had 18 points and 12 assists. 

The final buzzer sounded with a score of 85-70, but don’t let the final score fool you. This game was tied until the final 3 minutes when one team’s shots fell and the others didn’t. The Riders put up a great fight. Alison Lewis had 15 points off the bench and another double double from Oceana Hamilton headlined the Rider’s efforts. 

It was a tough loss, but a good fight. Go get ’em next time Riders!

Match Report written by Rob Field

The Leicester Riders and Oaklands Wolves faced a double header this weekend, one game played in each teams respectives arena’s. Both times though the Riders came out on top in convincing fashion behind the Riders unselfish offense and phenomenal defense. 

In their first face off the Riders took off, coming out with a 12-0 run in the first 5 minutes of play. From the moment the game started the Riders simply just executed better on both ends of the floor. Using their smart defensive rotations and fluid ball movement to solidify a lead against the Wolves. As they exited the first quarter with a 20-9 lead. 

The second quarter was more of the same. As the Riders again kept their foot on the gas, once again holding the Wolves scoreless for the first four and a half minutes of second quarter action. The wolves managed to put together a run of their own and try to close the gap against the Riders, but back to back three’s from Emihear Morris and Brooklynn Mcalear helped to stop their run and let the Riders sit comfortably going into the half with a 37-26 point lead. 

The third quarter commenced some back and forth action between both teams. The Riders attacked the paint and picked up extra points at the free throw line to hold the Wolves back despite their success from behind the three point arc. The Riders shot 9/9 from the free throw line in the third and success at the rim helped to elevate their lead even further to 58-39 as they entered the fourth quarter. 

The fourth quarter was all Riders as their offense clicked and they poured in 25 fourth quarter points compared to the Wolves 8. Everyone was hitting their shots and their defense was once again phenomenal. If this team has demonstrated anything it’s that they are a solid unit. Their ability to put ego aside and all work together with the goal to win is stellar to watch. 

5 Riders scored in double figures and Oceana Hamilton notched another double double with a 12 point 12 rebound effort. Brooklyn Mcalear once again proved herself as a floor general as she put up 15 points 8 assists and 3 steals. Overall a fantastic effort for the Riders, as they headed back home to face the Wolves once again.

With only a night’s rest both teams geared up and prepared to face each other once again. And once again it was the Riders who propelled ahead and took charge of this game. The Rider’s dominated behind both Oceana Hamilton and Hannah Robb’s double doubles. 

The first quarter was a more contested contest, both teams went shot for shot as they traded baskets up into the halfway point of the first. The Riders composed themselves and found their groove, as they began to take the momentum and close out the first quarter on top 17-12 for the Riders.

The second quarter was highlighted by the defense of the Riders as they continued to get stops and make their shots at the other end. The rim was wide open for the Riders as three’s, two’s and free throws continued to find the bottom of the rim behind 22 second quarter points. Their efforts extended their lead to 14 as they entered the half leading 39-25.

Third quarter action was more of the same as the Riders came out with a flurry of jump shots and defensive stops. Once again the Rider’s ball movement and unselfish culture fueled their efforts and helped them to build and maintain their lead. They poured in 24 points this quarter and held the Wolves to 7. Putting them up 31 as they entered the fourth, 63-32.

In the fourth the Riders held onto their lead and continued to operate as a fine tuned machine. Scoring 19 points and holding the Wolves to 9. It was again the whole team that worked together to win the game, 82-41. 

Both games this weekend the hustle, discipline and execution of the Riders propelled them ahead in back to back contests. It was a phenomenal display of teamwork and coaching. Excellent wins, Riders!

Match report written by Rob Field