Caledonia Gladiators delivered a statement performance on the road, pulling away in the fourth quarter to defeat the London Lions 73 – 95 at the Copper Box Arena in a special SLB Championship fixture supporting Her World, Her Rules.
The Gladiators made an assertive start, building an 18 –24 lead at the end of the first quarter through sharp ball movement and strong defensive pressure. They extended that advantage in the second period, controlling the tempo and executing efficiently in the half court. London responded with a run to cut the lead to just a couple of points, but the Gladiators steadied themselves to take a 39 – 48 advantage into half-time.
The third quarter proved a tougher spell for the visitors. The Lions increased their defensive intensity and found momentum offensively, trimming the Gladiators’ lead to just three points heading into the final ten minutes and setting up a tense finish. The game was set at 60 – 63 at the end of the third quarter, with both teams ready to fight in the final 10 minutes of the game.
However, the Gladiators produced their most dominant stretch when it mattered most. A huge fourth quarter saw them outscore London 13 – 32, combining defensive stops with clinical execution at the other end to turn a close contest into a convincing 22-point victory.
The Gladiators shot 52% from the field, scored 36 points in the paint and forced 25 turnovers, converting them into 19 points ensuring their victory in London before heading into the International Break. Annie Warren and Tess Amundsen led the scoring with 18 points apiece, Captain Tierra Hodges produced on both sides of the ball with a double-double (12 points and 12 rebounds), while Brynn Masikewich added 15 along with 6 steals, and Hannah Robb contributed 16 off the bench in a strong all-round team display to cap off an important road win.
The Gladiators will be back at Playsport at the end of the month, Sunday 29th of March, to host the Nottingham Wildcats after the International Break in more SLB Championship action.