Worcester Wolves Take Third Spot In Play Offs With 55-56 Win Over Cardiff Met Archers

Saturday 20^th May 2023

By Ria Kaur

Worcester Wolves secured third place in the BWB Women’s Premier League against Cardiff Met Archers in what was a very close and intense battle that ended 55-56 at the National Basketball Performance Centre in Manchester.

Both teams got off to an enthusiastic start, Archers Leah Evans started the game with two points. This was shortly met with two points from Jade Loughlin. Another quick two point from both teams brought the score to 4-4. Cardiff was looking to pick up their pace whilst the Wolve remained steady in their set up. Archers made use of offensive rebounds to apply pressure and take the score to 10-6. Shots from Worcester’s Kayla Bell and Ellen Frasers brough Wolves back to a draw with Archers (12-12). The quarter ended with the teams scoring another two points each, 14-14.

The second quarter saw the momentum of the game increase, with the lead alternating throughout. Cardiff developed a four-point lead with a big contribution from Katie Morrow, who picked up six points in the early part of the quarter (22-18). Niamh Horan helped the Wolves level out the score with a quick four points. Ellen, Fraser, Niamh Horan, and Sarah Hope all contributed to increasing the Wolves lead and strengthened their offensive play, the quarter ended 23-33.

At half-time the score was 23-33

The third quarter saw the Wolves maintaining their ten-point lead throughout the first half of the quarter. Jade Atkin and Katie Morrow continued to score for Archers, but the Wolves were also able to maintain a consistent shooting rhythm. The last part of the quarter saw the Cardiff side creeping back up and closing the gap between the score, with contributions from Leah Evans as well, Archers trailed by five (40-45). A last-minute shot by Elana Brand ended the quarter with Wolves leading by seven the score 40-47.

The last quarter saw the pressure rise. Wolves increased their lead in the beginning to eleven and Cardiff struggled to find a basket until four minutes into the quarter. However, once they found the basket Katie Morrow and Leah Evans steadily reduced their trail to two points, with the Wolves unable to generate any points. It now looked like there was a chance for Cardiff to take over as the pressure was on Worcester. The Wolves began to lose their momentum  as the game seemed to quickly change. Niamh Horan was able to bring Worcester’s trail back to five (49-55). But in the last-minute Archers picked up six points and were now leading by one point (55-54) with seven seconds left of the game it seemed Cardiff were in sight to take the game. Kayla Bell scores the last shot of the game in the final seconds bringing it back to the Worcester Wolves. The game ended 55-56 with Worcester Wolves taking the third place in the Women Premier League.

The highest scorer of the game was Archers Katie Morrow with 21 points followed by Wolves Ellen Fraser with 18. Cardiff’s Jade Atkin had the highest rebounds with 16 followed by Worcester’s Sarah Hope with 11.