Nottingham Wildcats host Cardiff Met Archers as they face off in the WBBL Trophy quarter-final on Sunday.
While the Wildcats sit near the bottom of the league, the side will look to make a success of their season in the trophy.
Since the formation of the WBBL the team have reached the semi-finals three times and been runners-up twice, including last season.
Having already claimed the league and cup, the trophy is the only competition the side hasn’t won. Considering they fell just short last year, Notts will want to change that this season.
Despite the teams inconsistencies this year, the club’s rich history will motivate the side to achieve silverware like others have before them.
Notts Head Coach, Kendrick Liburd, said: “We’re definitely excited for this weekend’s game against Cardiff.
“The trophy gives us an opportunity to get into the semi-final with a win so we have to focus now and concentrate on Cardiff.
“Our preparations have been good, we’ve been working on who we are and what we need to do to be successful.
“We’ve tried to be a bit more consistent in our behaviours and our performances so we are definitely excited.”
Wildcats advanced to the quarter-final after beating newly founded Gloucester City Queens 90-83 in the previous round.
Meanwhile Archers beat Hertfordshire outfit Oaklands Wolves in a comfortable 76-66 win away from home.
Despite Cardiff advancing, the side is in poor form, having only won two games in the league and not winning a game since October.
Wildcats will look to take advantage of this, hitting the Welsh side early and earning themselves a place in the semi’s.
Notts are led by forward Brooklyn Pannell who averages 17.3 points per game, the third most in the league.
Pannell is paired with American Kennedy Nicolas who puts up an impressive double-double of 11.7 points and 13.8 rebounds- the most in the WBBL.
Internationals Jahnae Gyles and Shaunay Edmonds also average 15.8 and 15.2 points respectively.
Liburd will look to play through his forwards, getting easy points on offence and imposing Cardiff on defence.
The team should look out for Cardiff star Shannon Hutch who leads the league in scoring with 18.8 points per game.
However, if Wildcats can lock down on Hutch and put pressure on her teammates, Liburd’s side can make it hard for them to score and force them into turnovers- where they give up nearly 20 game.
The fixture takes place at the Nottingham Wildcats Arena on Sunday at 5pm. Tickets can be brought on the door.
