Rebels Open SLB Championship Campaign with Win Over Caledonia Gladiators
The Essex Rebels Women kicked off their Super League Basketball Championship campaign with a hard-fought 74–70 win over the Caledonia Gladiators on Saturday, 25 October.
The opening quarter saw both teams trading baskets before Rebels captain Claire Paxton took charge. The Scottish forward and former Caledonia player made an immediate impact, scoring 10 points in under five minutes, showcasing her versatility by attacking the basket and hitting shots from beyond the arc. Defensively, the Rebels were locked in, forcing the Gladiators into tough shots and controlling the tempo. The team’s energy on both ends of the floor set the tone early, finishing the quarter ahead 26–11.
Essex remained in control at the beginning of the second quarter, extending their lead to 16 points. However, Caledonia responded late in the period, going on a 10–0 run in the final two minutes to close the gap. The Rebels entered halftime leading 35–29, but knew they would need to refocus to keep their advantage.
The Rebels had to play the second half without Paxton who left the game with a minor foot injury, sidelining her for the remainder of the night. Despite the setback, the Rebels regrouped in the third quarter. Natalie Chou led the charge offensively, hitting two three-pointers and making several trips to the free-throw line. Paige Meyer and Quinesha Lockett also contributed from deep, helping the Rebels build a game-high 18-point lead. Caledonia’s Tierra Hodges, Anastasia Warren, and Hannah Robb responded with key baskets to narrow the gap, but the Rebels closed the quarter still on top, 54–47.
The final quarter tested the Rebels’ composure. An unfortunate technical foul saw Lockett ejected early in the period, leaving the team without both her and Paxton for the remainder of the game. Despite this, the Rebels showed resilience and composure in crunch time. Blazejewski and Chou led the team, contributing 20 points each, and keeping control of the game during a tense back-and-forth finish. A late three-pointer from Hodges brought the Gladiators within three points with just five seconds remaining, but the Rebels held firm to close out the win 74–70.
It was a strong start to the Rebels’ 2025/2026 SLB Championship campaign — a performance that reflected the team’s depth, unity, and determination.
The Rebels will be back on the road next Saturday, 1 November, as they travel north to face the Newcastle Eagles before heading into the international break. The team will return to the Essex Sport Arena on 29 November where they’ll face the Oaklands Wolves.
