Leicester Riders beat Durham Palatinates 76-74 to lift the 2019 WBBL Trophy.
Kate Oliver was the game’s MVP with 16 points as the holders mounted a successful defence of their title.
But they were made to work to the bitter end by the first-time finalists.
The Australian centre pushed the Riders into an early blitz with eleven unanswered points in the opening quarter and then a further 12-3 run.
However Durham finally awoke with a shot from almost mid-court by Croatian veteran Monika Bosilj on the buzzer to end the period inspiring an 15-3 surge that put the underdogs in front and ignited a tit-for-tat battle that would run almost to the end.
Up 37-36 at half-time, Leicester opened the third period on a 12-4 run to keep the opposition at arm’s length but were hit by the loss of young star Holly Winterburn whose ankle injury saw her carted off the floor in a wheelchair.
Despite Durham coming within a single point in the sliding minutes, they could not find one late surge as free throws were swapped with Brea Elmore having the very last say from the line.
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