City of Birmingham Rockets women secured a convincing win on the road this weekend, beating Cardiff 53-76 at the Metropolitan University on Saturday afternoon. A strong second quarter broke the game open and we never looked back. A combination of sharp outside shooting and energetic team defence saw Rockets take the spoils.
Coach Allen began the game with Michelle Turner, Sarah Mullgrave, Enkeleda Pashaj, Milly Harrison and Grace Brownell.
The home team made a bright start, racing out to a 9-2 lead within three and a half minutes, leading to a Rockets timeout. Turner was the first Birmingham player to register points as she was fouled on the drive and made both shots from the free-throw line.
After discussing tactics, the momentum soon swung towards Rockets with Pashaj scoring from under the basket and Brownell adding an impressive three-point jumper. Turner continued Rockets’ offensive progress with nine more personal points, including two three-pointers from way beyond the arc. Harrison was a constant threat around the basket too, grabbing an offensive rebound before sinking an easy layup.
Mullgrave was another beginning to impose herself on the game. She made a great defensive block, then scored from close range at the other end, assisted by Pashaj. By this point, Rockets had wiped out the home team’s advantage as the quarter ended with both sides inseparable at 20-20.
To open the second, Turner regained the lead for Rockets with a further three-pointer followed by a layup after drawing the defence out, with Cardiff attempting to mitigate Birmingham’s long-range shooting threats.
Some brilliant team defence halted Cardiff’s scoring at the other end of the court as well, allowing Coach Clive’s team to increase their lead to nine points. A Brownell steal helped set up Harrison before Turner earned a turnover of her own and drove coast-to-coast.
By this point, Rockets had really put the squeeze on in defence. Sekinat Shobowale was introduced to the court and together with Harrison they stopped everything on the inside.
To end the half, Brownell went on a very impressive run, adding 11 personal points including three huge back-to-back three-pointers! Turner rounded off the scoring for the half with yet another long-range effort to send CoB into the break with a healthy 43-29 lead.
Turner was back in action again to start the half with another three-point jumper, before assisting Harrison for a close-range banker. With the game drifting away from Cardiff, their frustrations began to spill over. Both Turner and Brownell were sent to the line, making all five free shots between them. With Rockets now 23 points ahead and well in control, Coach Allen called a timeout to talk tactics.
The action resumed with Turner on the scoresheet again with a layup before Mullgrave was fouled and made both from the line. The quarter ended with the game all but secured for Birmingham at 37-58.
Pashaj was the first of six scorers for Birmingham in the last quarter, finding space to score under the basket, assisted by Turner. Mullgrave was the next to score, this time from the line, serving as just reward for constantly looking to attack the basket.
Izzy Childley then cleverly sent Harrison free for a layup after an interception from Brownell. The latter then scored the next five points with another fast-break layup and a further three-point effort.
Childley continued the barrage making a close-range layup, followed by a Chelsea Norris score, found open up by Brownell. This gave Birmingham their biggest lead of the contest – 31 points. Although Rockets eased off a little in the closing stages, Childley managed one further score to close the game as it ended 53-76.
In addition to Rockets’ great all-round team defence, there were two standout performers throughout the contest. Michelle Turner made an impressive 28 points including five three-pointers, five from seven from the foul line and five steals too. Grace Brownell also had a game to remember with 22 points, including five three-pointers and five steals.
Next up we travel to Nottingham for our final game of the season on Sunday 30th March, as we look to build on this victory and end the campaign on a high.
Report by Jess Ellicott
