Coyotes 51

Warwickshire Bears 57

The Bears took a narrow win in their last game of 2016 against Coyotes, a team made up from Great Britain women’s team, in a tough close fought game.  With a number of GB internationals return to their ranks a well-deserved period of rest following the Rio Paralympics, the Coyotes were determined to show that the earlier result in the season against the Bears was not a true reflection of their talent.  The Coyotes also had Siobhan Fitzpatrick in their team, due to Coyotes having pick on the GB internationals. And so, in a rarely seen recruitment scenario, the newest Bears signing turned to face her own team.  From the tip off the game was end to end with both teams locked in a battle to take control of the game. With no team being able to build any lead the game was a battle of defenses, both drawing fouls which took its toll on the line ups of both teams.  With each passing quarter both teams seemed to cancel  out each other’s strong efforts, both offensively and in defence, and the scores were locked closely until the last quarter when the Bears were able to find the form that they had displayed in recent games and took a decisive lead with only seconds on the game clock.  With no time left the Coyotes were left with the only option of fouling and putting the Bears on the free throw line to secure the victory with the final scores being Coyotes 51 – 57 Bears.

After the game coach Masterson said “What a game to finish the year off.  We were pushed all the way and again it showed why the Women’s International team is looking so exciting for the future.  Even today our own Aimee Hillson came off  the bench to play a brilliant game to help us get the win plus get the MVP from the rest of her peers.”