Worcester Wolves 33-60 East London Phoenix 

Saturday February 27th

By George Chapman

Having played the Phoenix last weekend Lucas Warburtons side had a quick turn around hosting the London based side in the Wolves first home fixture of 2024. The Phoenix were aided by the return of experienced Great Britain forward Amy Conroy.

Both teams started fast out of the blocks with East London getting the first score of the ball game before Lillie Hickman levelled for the Wolves.  

Lena Knippelmeyer opened her account for the game, converting from the left baseline and making a post up from inside the key with Ellen Fraser also scoring four points. Heading into the second period with East London Phoenix up by four leading fourteen points to ten  

Knippelmeyer got Wolves ticking offensively in the second quarter knocking down a post up from the free through line.  

London Phoenix called time out midway through the second quarter giving both teams a chance to refocus as the scoreboard read twelve to sixteen in favour of East London.  

After Amy Conroy put Phoenix further ahead Wolves head coach Lucas Warburton called a time out to stop the Phoenix’s’ moment.  

Niamh Horan checked into the game after the break in play and made an instant impact scoring her first basket after good ball movement from Wolves found Horan in the centre of the key,  

Ellen Fraser converted a pressure shot from the baseline with the shot clock ticking down to bring Wolves within twelve points after a great pass from Jade Loughlin. 

That score from Fraser was Wolves eighteenth point of the game going into half time with the scoreboard reading Worcester Wolves 18 East London 30.

Both teams’ defences were on top in the opening stages of the third quarter before Ellan Fraser scored her tenth point of the game after collecting an offensive rebound as Frasers first shot hit the rim.  

Lucas Warburton called a time out with two-minutes and fifty-eight seconds left in the third after Wolves struggled to break down the defensive pressure from Phoenix having only scored one basket in the third quarter.  

Heading into the fourth quarter down by twenty-two points, Worcester Wolves 20 East London Phoenix 42.  

Ellen Fraser got the scoreboard ticking again for Wolves taking her total to thirteen points after knocking down a shot from the right baseline through contact, sending Wolves number fourteen to the foul line for Fraser to convert the three-point play.  

Kayla Bell scored her first points of the ball game after great passing from the Wolves offense found Bell at the free through line. 

With seven-minutes and forty-four seconds remaining in the fourth head coach Warburton called a time out with Wolves down 25 51.  

London Phoenix called a time out with two-minutes and fifty-five remaining in the final quarter with East London leading fifty-seven points to twenty-seven points.  

Wolves number fourteen Fraser added a further two points to her total knocking down another long two from the baseline.  

Followed up by another two points by Fraser knocking down another shot from baseline taking Wolves game total to thirty-one points.  

Alice Mchaffie scored her first points of the game after executing a fantastic layup after a great pick and roll with Ellen Fraser with ten seconds left in the fourth quarter. 

With the final score after four quarters of action Worcester Wolves 33 East London Phoenix 60. Ellan Fraser top scored for the Wolves scoring nineteen points, five rebounds and two assists followed by Lena Knippelmeyer with four points, five rebounds and three assists.

Lucas Warburtons’ side are next in action on Saturday the 24^th of February as Wolves are on the road against Loughborough Lightning and they return to the Arena on March 15th for the reverse fixture.