Oaklands Wolves will go into the Christmas break in the WBBL play-off zone after a 91-76 home victory against Newcastle Eagles, on Saturday.
Lee Ryan’s team produced a dominant performance against the north east side and are now one of three sides tied in sixth place ahead of their December 30th home game against Sheffield Hatters.
Caterrion Thompson and Allison Day led the hosts with 20 points apiece, adding ten and six rebounds respectively as they led for almost all of the game. Beth Sarson added 15 points while Shaquera Wade added ten rebounds to her eight points.
Jorja Smith capped a 9-0 run to send Wolves into the first break 25-17 ahead and a good start to the second period saw Smith extend that advantage to 39-21 before Eagles closed the gap to seven points before a pair of Thompson free throws saw Oaklands lead 47-38 at half-time.
Baskets from Day and Thompson saw the lead grow to 18 points again and Julia Koppl, sent the hosts into the final break 67-53 ahead and they maintained a double digit advantage for the rest of the game to wrap up their third win in seven games.
Wolves’ young second team couldn’t make it a winning weekend for the women as their depleted side went down 76-71 at Thames Valley Cavaliers.
Rosie Porter (pictred) scored 11 first period points, but a depleted visiting side trailed 20-11 at the first break before they fought their way back into the game to reduce the deficit to 33-31 at half-time
A 25-20 third period saw Cavs' lead grow to seven at the final break and Wolves were only able to knock two off the deficit in the fourth quarter.
Porter led Wolves' scoring with 26 points, while Caitlin Ryan had four triples in her 17 point haul, and Ella Brown added a season-high nine points.
Wolves' men saw their Division Two survival hopes take another blow as they went down 83-55 at home against Cardiff Archers on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors opened a 24-11 first period lead and effectively had the game wrapped up by half-time with a 50-25 advantage. Lewis Thurlbourne marked his return to Oaklands with 15 points but he was the only Wolf in double-digits as La'Quarne Sayles and Callum Johnstone were limited to seven points each.
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