Sheffield Hatters win season opener against Cardiff
Sheffield Hatters traveled to Cardiff Met Archers at the weekend
The B.Braun Sheffield Hatters tipped off against the Cardiff Met Archers at Archers Arena on Saturday. Last season the Hatters became quadruple champions and will be looking to retain those titles this season. The Sheffield based team left with a huge win on their back as they defeated Cardiff 64-103. A dominant performance was put on both defensively and offensively by the Hatters as they won with a huge 39-point gap.
The B.Braun Sheffield Hatters started off with a strong first quarter as Nina Krisper put up 2-points off of the tip-off. By the end of the quarter the Hatters had a strong 13-point lead (15-28), with excellent plays from new signings Tierra Hodges and Mia Jaye Sarkodee-Adoo.
Nina Krisper opened the scoring once again with a 3-point play, as she put down a 2-point lay-up before being fouled on the play and made the shot from the free throw line. Cardiff tried to pull the game back but Tia Morgan finished as she put up a 2-point buzzer beater to end the quarter 35-48.
The Hatters extended their lead to 24-points with amazing play from each of the girls on the court. Rachel Cockman opened the scoring in the third quarter with a 3-point shot. Tierra Hodges put up a beautiful 2-point driving layup (42-57). Tia Morgan also put up a deep 3-point jump shot and then followed that up with a 2-point shot to finish up the quarter 49-73.
It would have been a tough claw back for the Archers as the Hatters pulled further and further away with a 39 point gap. Laycee Drake shined that final quarter as she put up two consecutive 2-point shots. Drake also rounded up the game as she put up a 3-point shot to put the Hatters over 100 points and bagged a final 2-points to end the game 64-103 to the Hatters.
For their first game as a team, you could see the clear connection they had together. Tia Morgan was also a close competitor especially after such a successful game for her as she rallied up 21 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 turnover. Though the MVP of the game for the Hatters was Nina Krisper as she totalled up 23 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 turnovers and 2 steals.
The B.Braun Sheffield Hatters will next face Manchester Basketball at the Canon Medical Arena on 10th October with tip off at 7pm.