WNBL Division One
Ipswich 100 – Cardiff Archers 44
Ipswich put together their best performance of the season with an emphatic 56 point win on Saturday against Cardiff Archers.
Ipswich started the first period at break-neck speed, with Ava Battese connecting on four thee-pointers in the first quarter, with Liv Forster adding a paid of her own as the home side took a 33-12 lead into the break, ans they wouldn’t let up for the remaining thirty minutes of play.
The Suffolk side, have started the season well, winning their first three games before losing on the road last weekend to league favourite’s CoLA Southwark pride, so a winning performance and a good performance was much needed for Nick Drane’s side, as they aimed to bounce back.
The three-point onslaught continued in the second quarter, with Battese again connecting, while Forster someone took her impressive start to life in Ipswich up to another level, as she collected nineteen points in the first half alone. Elsewhere, Cameron Taylor-Willis was quietly going about her business, while Saruna Gudza was causing havoc on the break for the hosts.
The third and fourth quarters followed much of the same pattern, with this Ipswich side showing a real ruthless streak, not allowing their opponents any hope of getting back into the game, as Taylor-Willis led the line fantastically for Ipswich as they ran away with a 100-44 victory.
“This was exactly the type of performance we were looking for. Despite the loss at CoLA, we learned a great deal about ourselves and I think we played some of our best basketball of the season – I think everyone in this league is expecting CoLA to be the toughest game of the season. We talked a lot during the week about how we can be more efficient with our offence, so to score 100 points was excellent” said Ipswich Head Coach Nick Drane.
Cameron Taylor-Willis put together a career-best stat line of 22 points, 22 rebounnds and 8 assists while Ava Battese was again on fire from downtow on her way to seventeen. Olivia Forster also continued her hot start to her Ipswich career with twenty-nine points, including six three’s. Battese and Forster combined for 11-19 from long range. Ipswich also welcomed guard Alice Fallon back into the line up after two months out. Fallon finished with seven points in just nine minutes of play.
Ipswich turn their attention to the National Cup next weekend, a competition the club hold dear to their hearts after winning the competition in 2018. On Sunday they host the storied Sheffield Hatters, who have re-launched their National League team. Do not be fooled by their Division Two status – Hatters have a roster most Division One teams would be very envious of!
Comments