UEL Women’s basketball first team are preparing to face Essex Ladies at SportsDock in the 4pm tip-off this Wednesday. The east Londoners have played a string of matches leading up to this encounter following their promotion from South Eastern 1A to the Premier South division.
UEL currently sit fourth in the table having played three matches while only achieving three points. Not only has UEL’s lack of points reflected their stuttered start to this tough league, but the east Londoners have struggled defensively with a goal difference of -7.
Heading into this match, UEL will no doubt be looking to improve that goal difference and grab some more points to climb up the table.
Vital Victory
UEL’s last match saw them travel to face Oxford University resulting in a 23-point win, with the final score sitting at 55-32.
The east Londoners will be walking into this face-off with confidence, especially after their first win of the season at Oxford who currently sit bottom of the table.
Slowly Adapting
However, UEL’s first win of the season doesn’t take away from the two previous losses the team have suffered this season, with a home defeat to Cardiff Met in their opening game of the season which ended in a 20-point loss (43-63).
They followed this defeat with their second loss of the season away to the University of Hertfordshire, this time only a 10-point loss with the final score favouring the hosts by 74-64.
Despite two consecutive losses, UEL showed perseverance and determination resulting in their first win of the season away at Oxford last week.
The UEL women may be hesitant following their previous home loss but go in to this match with a point to prove while hoping to improve that record.
Strength to Strength
However, this may not be an easy match for the home side. They face Essex Ladies first team who currently sit top of the table having played two matches so far, gaining a maximum of six points from those ventures.
Not only do Essex pose a threat as an unbeaten side this season, but the visiting team also hold the title of Premier South champions of last season, birthed from a similar journey to UEL.
Essex also earned promotion from South Eastern 1A in the 2016-17 season, before going on to win the Premier South league.
In-Form Outfit
They will no doubt be coming into this encounter with unbreakable confidence, having kept a pristine record with two home wins this season.
Essex opened the season with a 46-point home win against London South Bank University Women’s first team, with a monster score of 112-66.
Following their strong opener, Essex went on to claim a 69-64 victory over the University of Hertfordshire last week.
Intriguing Encounter
Nevertheless, it will be a good test to see if Essex can carry their stellar home form away with them to UEL’s SportsDock and remain unbeaten at the top of the table.
A win for UEL will provide a great path to climbing up the table and possibly following in the footsteps of their opposition, Essex, by pushing for the Premier South league the pair now battle in.
