Worcester Wolves 41-62 East London Phoenix

Sunday 10th December 2023

By George Chapman

Wolves lose first home game of the 2023/24 WPL season at University of Worcester Arena

It was a weekend of firsts for the Worcester Wolves, with it being their first home game of the season, the first game against East London Phoenix and the first game for new recruit Lena Knippelmeyer.

Lena Knippelmeyer opened her account for Wolves scoring from inside the key. Alongside Kaylia Bell and Niamh Horan scoring for Worcester giving Lucas Warburtons side a one point lead up 12-11 at the end of the first quarter.

Both teams started the second quarter being dominate defensively in the opening minutes of the second period. Knippelmeyer continued to be a strong presence on the inside the key.

Great Britain forward Amy Conroy kept Phoenix in the game converting a variety of post up shots from outside of the key and inside the key.

Head coach Warburton made changes to his line up midway through the second period with Alice Mchaffie converting a miss match from inside the key bringing Wolves to within three points of the Phoenix.

Heading into halftime with the scoreboard reading Worcester Wolves 21- East London Phoenix 24.

East London Phoenix gained the momentum of the game towards the end of the third quarter with Phoenix going into the final quarter up by eighteen points. 27-45.

Elana Brand came off the bench scoring four points bringing Wolves to within fourteen points having been down by twenty with seven minutes remaining in the fourth period.

Brand cut the game to a twenty-one-point deficit in the closing seconds of the fourth period with East London Phoenix taking the win 41-62.

Lena Knippelmeyer lead the Wolves scorers with 17 points and an impressive 16 rebounds taking a double double on her debut with Jade Loughlin, Niamh Horan and Elana Brand all contributing 6 points each.

The Wolves are next in action in the New Year with a road trip to Cardiff Met Archers on Sunday 13^th of January 2024.