London Lions storm to WBBL League Cup glory

The London Lions stormed to WBBL League Cup success at the Birmingham Utilita Arena beating the Leicester Riders 95-42 on Sunday.

The Lions retain their League Cup title having claimed the trophy a year ago beating the Newcastle Eagles. The Riders had enjoyed previous cup glory just a year before in the 2020/21 season, with the competition dominated by this years’ final sides in the last couple of seasons.

Azania Stewart was crowned MVP in the 2021/22 League Cup Final and hoped to help her Lions team to more glory this time out. Stewart and her side did just that but it was 22-year-old Holly Winterburn who took MVP in this years final despite Oliana Squires throwing the majority of the Riders points with 23 to her name.

Every single player on the Lions roster was on the scoreboard with respectable personal scores throughout the list. The same couldn’t be said for the Riders with just five players making up their 42 points from the game.

At the end of the first quarter of play the London Lions had a 24-15 lead. Katsiaryna Snytsina starred throwing two three pointers early on with Azania Stewart also taking three points. Ty Battle and Mikiah Herbert Harrigan also threw four points each helping their team to the first quarter lead.

Oliana Squires scored the majority of the Leicester Riders’ points with 10 to her name while Fiona O’Dwyer threw three and Mckenzie Johnston took two.

In the second quarter and ten minutes of play, the London Lions dominated again, extending there lead to 48 points to 26.

Taylor Murray showed her defensive quality retaking possession twice for her Lions side and scoring two easily at the other end of the court. The 25-year-old ended the quarter with seven points to her name.

Snytsina added five more points to her tally taking it to 11 while Harrigan also ended the second ten minutes of play with that amount.

Squires continued to shine for the Riders carrying her side to the 26 points with 15 of her own.

Mark Clark’s London Lions continued to race towards retaining their League Cup title in the third quarter as they led 73-35.

Ty Battle and Holly Winterburn ended with 10 points to their names for the Lions while Squires continued to tick her points tally over with 20 at the end of the third quarter for the Riders.

The 25-year-old American remained the game’s highest scorer despite her side staying far behind their opposition.

In the fourth quarter the Lions dominance continued, ending the game winners of the League Cup once again.

Harrigan ended as their highest scorer with 19 points, while Winterburn took 16, Snytsina had 14 and Murray scored 12.

It was a rather convincing win for the London side, showing excellent quality in attack and defence.

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