Cardiff …………………………….┬á 68
Winchester ………………………. 42
Cardiff University ladiesÔÇÖ basketball team earned a comfortable victory last Wednesday at Talybont over a determined University of Winchester side.
15 points from guard Iciar Ezquiaga Bravo and 12 from point guard Gabriela Angelova helped Cardiff to a second successive victory.  The side is now well set up for a run at the BUCS Western Conference 1A league title.
It was a nervy start for the home team who, after initially scoring six unanswered points including fast breaks brilliantly executed by Bravo and forward JaÔÇÖLisha Higgs, found themselves 8-14 down at the end of the first quarter.
A failure to win rebounds, some loose passing and a lack of concentration in defence contributed to that six point deficit, with Winchester scoring five of their points from the foul line.
Nick BartlettÔÇÖs team came alive in the second quarter – two early three-point shots from Bravo and Lisa Falcoz closed the deficit almost immediately. Winchester called a time-out upon falling behind at 16-14 and managed to even things up at 20-20 soon after, before Bravo dribbled through a crowd of players to put Cardiff ahead with a well-finished layup.┬á Cardiff finished the half strongly against an already Winchester side that was already tiring and led 29-24 at the second interval.
CardiffÔÇÖs energetic style of play helped them pull away from their opponents in the third quarter. Gone were the needless fouls and sloppiness that had marked the first quarter and in its place were confidence and defensive discipline. Contributions came from seven different players as CardiffÔÇÖs field goal accuracy improved decisively.
The game remained competitive in the fourth quarter as Winchester went on a run of eight unanswered points, but Cardiff remained in control to secure a well deserved 68-42 victory.
The result takes Cardiff to the top of the division, ahead of Bristol and the University of South Wales on points difference, with the ladies travelling to winless Southampton on Wednesday.
CARDIFF: G Angelova, H Gambin, J Higgs, K Lai, J Littleford, K Journeaux, C Crenn, L Falcoz, K Chatzivasileiadi, I Ezquiga Bravo, D Chan, C Galalis
David Riley
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