Basketball team net gold in dramatic national final

Champagne was popped last night (Wednesday) after the enthralling game which saw the squad triumph in the British Universities and Colleges National Championships.

After coming from behind the team incredibly beat Durham 73-67, despite trailing by 14 at the beginning of the fourth quarter in Nottingham.

Andrea Kohlhaas led Essex with 21 points, 11 rebounds and three assists to claim the MVP award, while Lucrezia Costa added 17 points and Claire Paxton posted a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Amazingly the squad went undefeated in the season and this is the first time Essex has won a basketball National Championship Title.

Tom Sadler, Head of Basketball Performance, said: “I am so proud of these players to go undefeated and bring back a BUCS national championship for the university is an amazing accomplishment.

“We’ve worked so hard the past few years and to see that hard work pay off with a national title is a great feeling.

“Credit to Durham for playing a tremendous game, and was a great advert for women’s basketball in this country.”

The men’s volleyball team came up one game short of repeating their 2019 triumph in the National Championship, when they had also been the first ever Essex finalist team at Big Wednesday in the history of the University.

They went down 3-1 in a battling performance against host institution, Nottingham.

Alex Porter, Volleyball Performance Coach, said: "I’m immensely proud of the dedication and hard work that the student-athletes and staff have put in.

"Their relentless drive is a credit to the university, their families, the team and themselves.

"Although the colour of the medal wasn’t what we aimed for, they should be proud of everything they have achieved this year, reaching the final is an amazing achievement in itself.

"This team is more than a team, it’s a brotherhood, a family who has celebrated the wins with each other and supported each other through the lows, there is a special bond that’s been created through a shared vision of excellence.

"The season may be over but with 13 of the 17 athletes returning next year, the preparation for another championship begins today."