With neither senior team in action over the weekend, the academy women's side took centre stage, and they had mixed results against older and more experienced teams. They exited the National Cup with a 73-57 loss at Milton Keynes Breakers on Saturday before bounding back to beat London Elite 63-55 in NBL Division Two the following day.
Wolves started well at Milton Keynes, leading 23-21 at the first break but the game got away them in the second period as Breakers outscored them 27-14 before extending their lead to 66-41 at the final break. A 16-7 fourth quarter proved too little, too late for a Wolves team that was led by 13 Lily Harness points with Rianna Redondo and Caitlin Ryan adding eight apiece.
An entertaining game at Oaklands the following day saw Shanice Beckford-Norton's team finish strongly to maintain their unbeaten start to the league season. After trailing early in the game, Wolves edged the first period 18-17 before extending their lead to 37-31 at half-time. That lead grew by one to 46-38 after a tight third period but the teams were tied at 52 heading into the final four minutes but big threes from Ryan and Redondo put the hosts in charge before five Darcey Woodman points wrapped up the win.
Captain Ryan drained six triples in her team-high 22 points, adding seven rebounds and three steals while Woodman had ten points and three boards. Sarah Nicholson, Redondo and Azaria Abdie-Waite each finished with seven points while Maliya Lawal pulled down eight boards to go with her three steals.
There was overtime heartbreak for Wolves II in the NBL Conference as they went down 81-78 at Stevenage Royals. The hosts doubled their 15-12 first period lead to go into the locker room 33-27 ahead. But Wolves narrowed the gap to 46-42 at the end of the third period and then took the game into overtime with a 31-27 fourth period. That proved to be as good as it got for a young wolves side who struggled with Royals' size as the hosts won the extra five minutes 8-.5. Tristan McIntosh led La-Quarne Sayles' side with E. Manyeku adding 14 and A. Kwawalana 12.
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