Caledonia Pride take to the court today (Sunday, 1pm) at The Oriam, Ricarton, looking to start in top gear.
They were certainly fired-up the last time they played Manchester Mystics at the National Basketball Performance Centre in the North West in late October.
Bart Sengers’ squad raced to an 18-16 first quarter lead but then it all fell away.
Quarters of 26-17, 18-10 and 17-7 meant a 77-52 WBBL defeat and Pride also lost at the same venue in the WBBL Cup in mid-October with a score of 69-48.
Once again, they were up with Mystics after the first quarter, trailing by only two at 27-25 but a second quarter slump, with Mystics netting 12 points against two, started the slide.
They beat Pride with a third quarter of 19-8 but Sengers will take heart from the final session which the Scots won 13-11.
So to Sunday’s match at The Oriam (1pm) and the threats. Mystics guard Georgina Jones slotted 16 points to be joint top scorer with Jo Clayden in the first clash and forward Amy Browne was best on October 29 with 24 points followed by Jones with 17 points.
Patricia Oakes has scored 23 points for Pride in the two matches with Hannah Robb netting seven in the first and 12 in the second.
Pride’s spirit is high following their impressive second-half showing against league pace-setters Nottingham Wildcats who lead the table with 18 points from ten outings, having won nine and lost one.
Sheffield Hatters are second with 16 points from ten matches (won eight lost two) while Mystics are third on 14 points from seven wins and two defeats.
Pride have trained hard in the two weeks since they hosted Nottingham and the girls are optimistic that today can be a historic one for the club in its inaugural season.
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