Last minute heart-break for Wolves

Oaklands Wolves' British League play-off hopes took a knock as they went down 76-69 at home against Manchester Giants, on Saturday.

A massive 32 point, 13 rebound double-double from Ri Thomson [pictured] wasn't enough for Lee Ryan's team as a strong fourth period from the visitors saw them complete a season sweep against Wolves. 

With four games in the regular season remaining, Wolves will travel to Newcastle Eagles on Saturday for a must-win match-up before hosting their away game against EuropeCup finalists London Lions next Wednesday. tip-off 2pm.

An even start saw Thompson's triple help Wolves tie the game at 10 midway through the first period but a 15-4 run from the visitors saw them take control before Thompson score a pair at the foul line to cut the deficit to 26-19 at the first break.

That lead grew as Emilie Black converted a three-point play to open the second period, but Amy West's lay-ip launched an 8-2 run, before a Beth Sarson and-one and a Thompson lay-up tied the game at 38 going into the locker room at half-time.

Giants scored the first five points after the break but there was little to choose between the teams in the third quarter and Thompson hit the hosts final five points of the quarter as the sides were locked at 59-59 going into the final frame.

Thompson extended her personal run to ten straight points as Wolves led 64-60 with 6:30 on the clock.

Thomson - inevitably - kept Wolves ahead with a jump shot but missed the bonus and Hanna Shaw's step back jumper saw Giants take a 67-66 lead with 2:31 on the clock.

Turk and Thomson exchanged triples to leave Giants up by one heading into the final 90 seconds.

Shaw hit a shot to make it a three-point game but the key moment came with 58 seconds on the clock when Day attempted to get the ball after a Thompson turnover and was harshly judge to have committed an intentional foul 

Mya Pace converted both foul shots and scored another pair at the line as Wolves were forced to foul to stop the clock, leaving Giants able to wrap up the win.

Wolves look for three-peat

Oaklands Wolves will look to make it three WBBL wins on the bounce when they host Manchester Giant on Saturday.

Tip-off is 6pm with tickets available here or cash on the door.

Saturday's 87-59 home win against Cardiff Met Archers saw Lee Ryan's team move up to eighth spot in the WBBL table and the visit of Giants is key one for both teams' play-off hopes.

Manchester have been poor travelers this season, with their only road win coming against the winless Archers. They are currently tenth in the table with a 4-12 record, and defeated Wolves 92-74 when the sides met in December.

Archers shot down in second half

A strong second half saw Wolves collect their fifth win of the campaign on Saturday as Cardiff Archers were beaten 87-59.

The Welsh side were outscored 50-26 after half-time as Ryan's team collected their first league double of the campaign.

Catterrion Thompson again led the hosts with 19 points, adding four assists and as many rebounds in 28 minutes while Shaq Wade missed a double-double by a single board, finishing with 12 points. Beth Sarson added 11 points, Allison Day had ten, while Claire Abbott, Amy West Julia Koppl all finished with nine.

There was little to choose between the sides in the first period, with Thompson's lay-up sending the teams into the first break tied on 17.

Wade's pair of baskets opened the second period and gave Wolves a lead they would never lose, and triples from Abbott and Wade sent the hosts into the locker room with a 37-33 half-time lead.

Abbott drained a trey to open the second half and a pair of Day free-throws saw the lead reach double digits and Thompson also scored from downtown as Wolves outscored the Welsh side 25-8 to lead 62-41 at the final break.

Miriam Carrasco-Menendez [pictured] opened the fourth period scoring, and the lead only briefly dropped below 20 as Wolves wrapped up a win to put them firmly in the play-off race.