Division 1 Women's Match Report
BACK TO WINNING WAYS FOR TSK VS. OXFORD BROOKES
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Saturday saw Kestrels welcome Oxford Brookes University who came in 4-0 and yet to drop a game in the league this season.
In a game that would see two teams with very different records and form of late pitted against each other, it was the Kestrels who showed their intentions in the early going. In the absence of Captain, Jodi Jerram, it was stand-in captain, Silvia Cante, who got the Kestrels off the mark and spear headed a 12-0 run to start the game. Oxford struck back with points from Courtney Grey and Sara Zueco Montanes, who helped the visitors finish the quarter just 7-points adrift, 22-14.
Both teams started slow in the 2nd quarter, as each team stepped up the intensity at the defensive end. Oxford’s Jen Dorney-Savage hit the first basket at 6.40 seconds of the period, but it was a balanced contribution from Jenkins, Cante, Kurkowski, Di Stefano and Curson that helped the Kestrels outfit to maintain their advantage and go into the half with an 11-point lead.
In the third the Oxford trio of Lozano, Grey and captain, Alice Walton would demonstrate why Oxford had been unbeaten to date. Oxford moved the ball well and pick holes in the Kestrel’s defensive rebounding capabilities to narrow the gap. However, Jackson would continue to secure rebounds and attack the hoop, helping to maintain Kestrels lead. The quarter ended 46-38 to Team Solent Kestrels.
Going into the fourth, Brookes picked up the tempo and pressured the Kestrels into some needless turnovers. Walton and Grey continued to attack with Grey scoring 6 of her game-high 17 points in the final quarter. For the Kestrels it was Earleasha Jackson who contributed 6 of her 14 in the fourth. Mel Curson also remained aggressive in the fourth heading to the line on successive trips late in the game. A late 3-pointer by Oxford’s Walton made the game close, but it was too little too late for the visiting team. Final score, Team Solent Kestrels 57, Oxford Brookes 54.
After the game Coach Lee said “We’ve been improving every week and this is simply the result of applying ourselves in practice and learning from previous mistakes. I think this year is going to be one of the closest battles for the Championship in recent years and in spite of a slow start out of the blocks, we’re not out of the race.”
Game Leaders:
Team Solent Kestrels
Earleasha Jackson, 14
Mel Curson, 12
Megan Jenkins, 11
Andrea Kurkowski 10
Oxford Hoops
Courtney Grey, 17
Alice Walton, 14
Sara Zueco Montanes, 7
TSK travel to Barking Abbey Lions next Sunday in league action whilst Oxford Brookes return home to face Anglia Ruskin University on Saturday and then play host to Essex Blades on Sunday in a cup quarter final.
Check out the bests shots from the action here from the fantastic Mirror Box Studios - https://mirrorboxstudioslive.com/2017/11/11/kestrels-women-v-oxford-brookes-uni-11-11-17/
KESTRELS COME UP SHORT ON THE ROAD AT ESSEX
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
The D1 Kestrels Women travelled to Essex Blades the weekend, for what would be their best performance of the season, despite failing to capture the win. Essex have the tallest roster in the league, but also one of the best scoring line-ups, led by American and former Reading Rockets player, Cat Lutz, who has set out her intentions this season with a couple of 30-point performances since her return to National League competition.
The Kestrel’s game plan was simple, keep the score low by keeping Lutz off balance. Blades began the game by attacking the basket and led early on, before Captain Jodi Jerram hit two threes in the first quarter to keep the Kestrels in contention. New comer Chiara Di Stefano also contributed off the bench, scoring 2 of her 6 points in the first quarter. In the second quarter the game became a see-saw battle, though Essex seemed to have the slight edge and took a 2-point lead into the half-time break, up 25-23.
However, it was Solent who came out with renewed purpose in the 3rd. Whilst Lutz and Ogunjimi both contributed for the Blades, the TSK quartet of Jerram, Jackson, Kurkowski and Jenkins would all contribute for a combined 16 points for the quarter. With Kestrels leading by 1 going into the 4th, the hometown crowd got behind their team as the officials tried to keep a lid on the increasingly physical nature of the game. Despite a solid defensive performance from Solent, Lutz finally found some space and made 8 fourth quarter points to close out the game and secure the win for the Blades.
Captain Jerram said of her team “I can’t be disappointed with how we played, as we’re getting better with every game”.
Coach Lee added “Nobody enjoys losing and this is a new experience for us - its a test of our character. Nevertheless, I’m committed to the team and know we’ll keep learning and improving every week.”
Final Score, Blades 56-47 Team Solent Kestrels
Game Leaders: -
Blades: Lutz, 16; Ogunjimi 14, Kucerkova 9
TSK: Jerram, 12; Jackson 12, Kurkowski 8
The Kestrel’s game plan was simple, keep the score low by keeping Lutz off balance. Blades began the game by attacking the basket and led early on, before Captain Jodi Jerram hit two threes in the first quarter to keep the Kestrels in contention. New comer Chiara Di Stefano also contributed off the bench, scoring 2 of her 6 points in the first quarter. In the second quarter the game became a see-saw battle, though Essex seemed to have the slight edge and took a 2-point lead into the half-time break, up 25-23.
However, it was Solent who came out with renewed purpose in the 3rd. Whilst Lutz and Ogunjimi both contributed for the Blades, the TSK quartet of Jerram, Jackson, Kurkowski and Jenkins would all contribute for a combined 16 points for the quarter. With Kestrels leading by 1 going into the 4th, the hometown crowd got behind their team as the officials tried to keep a lid on the increasingly physical nature of the game. Despite a solid defensive performance from Solent, Lutz finally found some space and made 8 fourth quarter points to close out the game and secure the win for the Blades.
Captain Jerram said of her team “I can’t be disappointed with how we played, as we’re getting better with every game”.
Coach Lee added “Nobody enjoys losing and this is a new experience for us - its a test of our character. Nevertheless, I’m committed to the team and know we’ll keep learning and improving every week.”
Final Score, Blades 56-47 Team Solent Kestrels
Game Leaders: -
Blades: Lutz, 16; Ogunjimi 14, Kucerkova 9
TSK: Jerram, 12; Jackson 12, Kurkowski 8