City of Birmingham Rockets women got their WNBL Division Two season off to a winning start by defeating Charnwood in their opening game at Nechells Wellbeing Centre on Saturday evening.
Birmingham started with experience in Ellie Pierpoint, Sarah Mullgrave, Catarina Seixas, Milly Harrison and Grace Brownell.
Seixas opened the scoring for Rockets, driving to the basket straight from Harrison’s accurate tip-off. Mullgrave started brightly too, hitting a lay-up, before adding two more from the foul line to open an early four-point lead.
Then it was Brownell who made her mark on the game with an excellent steal, showing quick hands, and driving all the way to the unguarded basket. However, Riders started to fight back causing Coach Clive Allen to call an early timeout with the scores level, 8-8.
Both sides struggled with a quiet period after the timeout but after taking an offensive rebound, Harrison was able to put back to regain the lead. Mullgrave continued her bright start to the game, adding two more driving past defenders to the basket.
It was the Riders’ coach who then needed to talk things through with his side trailing.
Shortly after, Riders closed the lead to a single point. This seemed to send CoB into another gear. Pierpoint was aggressive on defence, gathering rebounds and forcing turnovers, before nailing back-to-back three-pointers on offence to open up the lead.
Brownell added one of two free throws after being fouled attacking the basket, then a brilliant passage of play by Rockets really brought the crowd to life. Great work in defence by Pierpoint forced the turnover and Mullgrave’s vision sent Harrison clear for an open lay-in. This extended the home side’s lead to five with the score 21-16 at the end of the first quarter.
Brownell started the second with real intent hitting a three from deep, before Pierpoint made an interception which left Brownell once again driving to an open basket.
Izzy Chidley was introduced onto the court to make her Rockets debut. Mullgrave made one from the line to put Coach Allen’s team up by seven (27-20) as he called a timeout to talk tactics.
After the break, Chidley was gaining confidence as her interception led to another huge three from Pierpoint and it wasn’t long before Mullgrave was back in action, hitting a three pointer of her own. The visitors called a timeout with the score now 33-24 before Mullgrave added yet another free-throw, increasing Birmingham’s lead to double-digits.
Rockets’ third debutant, Chelsea Norris then stepped onto the court to experience her first minutes for Birmingham and her defensive rebound set Harrison up for two, extending the home team’s lead even further. Charnwood then hit a three before the buzzer to remind Rockets of their threat, but the half time was still healthy at 36-27.
It was a slow start to the third quarter for both sides and it proved to be a low scoring quarter for Rockets, bringing Riders back into the contest. Charnwood gained momentum as the period went on, snatching a three-point lead by the end of the quarter, 42-45.
Rockets were restricted to just six points in the quarter. Pierpoint made a close-range jumpshot, assisted by Brownell. Harrison worked hard in the post position and made two off the backboard, fending off two defenders. Following a timeout by Coach Allen, Harrison scored again. However, Charnwood won the quarter 18-6, leaving it all to play for going into the final quarter.
Needing to turn the tide quickly, Rockets came out firing in the fourth. Mullgrave was fouled on the drive yet again and added the first point of the fourth before making a steal which led to a crucial three-pointer from Seixas. With Rockets just one point ahead, Charnwood called a timeout with seven minutes remaining and the score 46-45.
Mullgrave added yet another from the line, getting the visitors into foul trouble, before some brilliance from Brownell saw her hit a big three and follow it up with a two in the next possession. With just over two minutes left and the scores level, Coach Allen called a timeout to talk things over.
In a nervy finish, Riders made a two to retake the lead but Brownell set up Mullgrave to level things up again, 54-54. With Charnwood over the foul limit, Seixas took matters into her own hands and was sent to the line to add one, regaining a narrow lead.
Some frantic and energetic defending meant that Rockets were still up by one with just 12.6 seconds remaining, forcing a Riders timeout.
The visitors had one last attempt to score and win the game but some brilliant work from Mullgrave saw her steal the ball and drive all the way to the basket to cement the win for her team, to the delight of the home crowd and Rockets’ bench!
It was a fantastic win for the home team against a young, well-drilled Riders’ side. The starting five played the bulk of the game, keeping out of foul trouble and stepping up when the team needed them.
Three new players were given their valuable first taste of Rockets’ basketball too. Congratulations again to Izzy, Chelsea and Shaka for making their debuts and contributing to the win.
There were great performances from all of the starting five.
Sarah Mullgrave top scored with 17 points and had a huge impact in defence, earning six steals and ten rebounds. Grace Brownell added 13 points along with five steals; whilst Ellie Pierpoint made 11 points, six steals and ten rebounds.
Milly Harrison was a big presence at both ends of the court, grabbing eight rebounds and three steals, whilst also scoring double-digits with ten points. Finally, Catarina Seixas added six points, including a crucial three-pointer and free-throw in the final quarter.
CoB will welcome back further squad members and hope to be at full strength when they play their next league game on Saturday 12th October at the Wellbeing Centre against Nottingham Uni Wildcats, tipping off at 5pm as part of a double-header with the men’s team.
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Come along and show your support as we hope to continue our positive start to the season!
Report written by Jess Ellicott