Manchester Basketball picked up a 82-74 win against the Oaklands Wolves in the Women’s SLB Championship.

Maaja Bratka led the victors with 23 points and 13 rebounds, playing elite ball on both ends to log 2 steals and a block on the night. Frannie Hottinger backed her with 16 points and 7 assists, as four of the five Manchester starters logged double digits.

Manchester dominated the paint, winning the battle at the rim 30-18 to impose their physicality on the Wolves. That allowed them to beat last season’s league winners nearly wire-to-wire.

The hosts did have to overcome a hot Wolves start. Oaklands started 10-3 early in the first. But Manchester battled back and led by five at the end of the quarter.

They turned that into a double-digit lead by the end of the first half. They went on a 9-0 run started by a triple by Veera Pirttinen, and that ended up being the difference on the night.

Manchester were able to hold on from there, fending off their opponents throughout the second half. Oaklands, led by Shanice Beckford-Norton, cut the difference to single digits midway through the fourth quarter.

They never stole the lead from Manchester, who hit timely buckets late on. They hung on for the win with Bratka and Georgia Anderson hitting the clutch free throws to seal the game.

Manchester improved to 2-4 in the SLBW Championship with the victory. Manchester return from their winter break on January 18, taking on the Essex Rebels at the NBPC.

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