The Endeavour Ipswich Basketball Senior Women advanced to the quarter final of the National Cup with a hard fought win on the road at Anglia Ruskin, on a rare mid-week National League fixture on Tuesday.
For the second time in 48 hours, Ipswich found themselves holding a double-figure lead with less than two minutes to play, but unlike Sunday at CoLA, the team were able to manage the games closing moments, winning on the road.
Ipswich were by no means on top form, shooting poorly from the perimeter, with the ARU defence clearly set on making life difficult for the Ipswich scorers. However, it was a breakout game from Christabel Osarobo that sparked an huge Ipswich win that will now see the Suffolk side return to CoLA, on Sunday the 26th November, for a place in the National Cup Semi-Final.
“ARU always present us with difficulties. They are well coached, and have some experienced players that can really play. I don’t think this was the prettiest of wins, but any win on the road, and any win in the cup, is a good win”. Said Ipswich assistant Coach Rob Schatten.
Ipswich were led with seventeen points by captain Harriet Welham, helped by fifteen points from Liv Forster and a massive fifteen point, twenty-three rebound performance from Christabel Osarobo. Ipswich also got major contributions from Hannah Gray, Louisa Gibbins and Danielle Cazey on a cold Tuesday in Cambridge.
Ipswich host Brent Bulls on Saturday at 3:30pm at Copleston in what is an early season top of the table clash in WNBL Division One.