Rebels secure crucial win against Riders
The Essex Rebels staged an impressive comeback to claim a hard-fought 76-71 victory over the Leicester Riders in an intense Super League Basketball Women clash between the 7th v 8th seed.
The game remained close throughout, with the Riders leading for the majority of the contest. At halftime, they held a narrow 39-35 advantage, thanks to strong performances from Katie Januszewska and Kaia Harrison, who contributed 14 and 10 points, respectively. For the Rebels, Taylor O’Brien led the charge with 15 points in the first half.
After the break, the Rebels ramped up the intensity, but the Riders maintained control heading into the final period, leading 57-53. However, Essex found another gear in the closing stages, with Maria Blazejewski delivering a dominant performance to guide her team to victory. She finished as the game’s top scorer with 24 points, proving instrumental in the Rebels’ late surge.
O’Brien finished the night with 20 points, while Daniella Turner added 13 to the Rebels’ tally. The Riders finished with four players scoring in double digits—Januszewska (19), Harrison (18), Erin Eadsforth-Yates (13), and Maddie Tweedie (15) — but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Rebels’ late rally.
In the end, the home side capitalised on their momentum and clutch playmaking to secure a thrilling 76-71 win, much to the delight of their fans.
Rebels head coach, Ashley Cookson, said after the game:
“Happy for the group to win in a close contest and showed poise in the 4th quarter to close the game out. Looking forward to getting back to practice this week to prepare for Durham. Proud of the way the team has supported each other through a tough time for everyone in our club. We have really appreciated the support from the wider basketball community. DJ, TJ, Makyle and Eva’s impact will live on in our Rebels community.”
The Essex Rebels will be back in action on Saturday, 1st March, as they travel to face the Durham Palatinates. Looking to climb the league table, they will aim to build on their momentum. Tip-off is set for 1 PM, with the game available to watch live on the Super League Basketball YouTube channel.
