The away trip to Solent was an important game for both sides as both had chances of play-off contention beckoning, with Solent particularly well placed as 2nd in the league. The 2 previous encounters had resulted in very competitive games, with Solent taking the spoils in each game. Given the Tigers excellent win of the previous week, it was disappointing to travel with only 8 players, due to holiday commitments.
The Tigers knew they were in for a difficult game from the outset as Solent took the sting straight out of the girls normal running game and effectively turned the tables in what became a something of a scoring shoot-out between the 2 teams. The Tigers had not prepared well for this game, particularly as their opponents were beating all before them. The high percentage jump shot shooting by the Suns was unexpected to both the Tigers and also the Suns Coach! 12 unanswered points from the Suns split the 1st quarter apart and only the doggedness of the team with Hannah Watkins and Jenny Ridgway leading the riposte, kept the girls in touch as the Suns took the quarter 23 – 16.
Worse was to come for the Tigers as Suns immediately after the restart went on the rampage, hitting every shot within distance and opened up a 19 point gap. Despite the Tigers best efforts, their press was beaten with ease, time and time again until a rally and a spurt of scoring from Aimee Brook and Laura Dyke cut the lead to 13 points as the Suns took a 48 – 35 lead into the locker room.
A switch from man to zone defence at the start of the 2nd half reversed the flow of scoring as, suddenly Suns points dried up under defensive pressure from Abby Pow and Nicky Hartston, and it was Tigers turn to make a few baskets, closing the gap to a mere 3 points, before Suns closed the quarter at 63 – 56.
The final quarter turned into something of an anti-climax for Tigers who were unable to maintain their momentum from the 3rd quarter. Some good early work at the defensive end from Hannah Maddocks and a couple of steals from Emily Farthing kept Tigers in touch, until Hannah Watkins and Abby Pow were fouled out, opening up the game for the Suns once again and allowing them to take the game 85 – 69.