Impressive forward play from Cambridge couldn't prevent a 35-20 to rivals OxfordDevarshi Lodhia

Cambridge Panthers 20

Oxford Women's Basketball Seconds 35

BUCS Midlands 3B League, University Sports Centre

A fourth quarter comeback was not enough as the Cambridge University Women’s Basketball 2nds (Panthers) fell to a 35-20 loss against the Oxford University Women’s Basketball Club 2nds (OUWBC Twos) in the BUCS Midlands 3B League on Wednesday night at the University Sports Centre.

Having not played a competitive match since their 43-22 victory against Nottingham Trent on November 30th, the Panthers’ lack of cohesion was evident, with a series of avoidable defensive errors ultimately consigning the Light Blues to defeat and costing them the opportunity to end their bitter rivals’ undefeated league run: the Dark Blues are yet to lose a match since a 44-33 defeat away to Birmingham 1sts last March.

The opening minutes were cagier than anticipated with neither team able to properly dominate proceedings. OUWBC Twos made the stronger start courtesy of two quick-fire scores and, helped by a number of unnecessary fouls by the Light Blues, established an early lead.

The Panthers managed to peg their opponents back towards the end of the quarter with some fine shooting courtesy of St Catharine’s Eunice Wong who scored all six of Cambridge’s first quarter points. However, a lapse in concentration in the final seconds of the quarter from the Panthers allowed the Dark Blues in for a buzzer beater to extend their lead, leaving the home side with a 14-6 deficit at the end of the first period.

Cambridge started the second quarter with much greater intensity and were duly rewarded for their attacking intent, with Michelle Lim scoring in the opening seconds after a lightning-quick passing move that cut through the Oxford defence. Both sides traded scores as the quarter proceeded with Wong once again providing the Light Blues’ main attacking threat, scoring twice more. Basic defensive errors once again proved Cambridge’s undoing, as despite dominating the quarter, the Panthers went into half-time 20-12 down.

The third quarter unequivocally belonged to OUWBC Twos as they scored 10 unanswered points to extend their lead to 30-12. Cambridge’s defensive weaknesses were once again exposed and Oxford exploited the Panthers’ inability to effectively deal with their defensive rebounds. Offensively, the Panthers’ movement and passing intensity warranted much more than they got but luck simply wasn’t on Cambridge’s side in the third period, as they hit the rim no fewer than seven times in a frustrating display.  

The Panthers’ attacking perseverance paid off in the fourth quarter, though, as Kate Burrell scored Cambridge’s first points of the half. Cambridge soon, albeit belatedly, got fully into their attacking stride as Aicha Massrali scored after some tenacious work from the tireless Alisha Kasam forced an error from the Oxford team. A late flourish courtesy of Michelle Lim and a buzzer beater from Lucia Bura ensured that Cambridge finished the game stronger.

Indeed, speaking to Varsity after the match, the Panthers coach, Kent Griffith praised his team’s persistence, stating, “the game should’ve been closer than it was,” and that the Light Blues’ performance in the fourth quarter encouraged him greatly.

The Panthers won’t have to wait long to attempt to exact their revenge as they face OUWBC Twos again on the 25th January, in what will no doubt be a much closer affair.

The Panthers: Pratanwanich (c), Wong, Burrell, Jessen, Segal, Ferreira-Bruco, Bura, Ellis, Massrali, Widjaja, Lim, Kasam