London Lions women’s second team were unable to complete a double in Cardiff on Sunday as they went down 69-61 against Archers II.
The visitors trailed 37-23 at half-time, and managed to chip three off the deficit in each of the second half periods, but fell short as they slipped to their fourth loss in five #games.
Fatmata Janneh continued her good start to the season with a 25 points, adding nine rebounds, four steals and three assists, while Nicholle Lavinier – who had already played a few minutes in Lions’ WBBL victory earlier in the day - had 14 points to go with her four rebounds and three assists. Maisie Crowley cleaned up on the boards with 15 rebounds, adding five points and a couple of assists.
Crowley opened the scoring and Janneh briefly gave the visitors the lead before a 15-2 run put Archers in charge and despite Janneh ending the run, Lions trailed 19-10 at the first break.
Janneh sunk a triple early in the second period and Crowley kept Lions in touch at the foul line but the hosts kept the lead in double figures for most of the quarter despite Janneh’s later free throw Cardiff took a 37-23 lead into the locker room at half-time.
Crowley’s lay-up opened the second half and Janneh made it a ten point game from close range . Neve Marvill drained from downtown as Lions continued to chip away at the deficit, taking it down to six points and Lavinier also scored from the Land of Plenty to make it an eight point game with five minutes gone. Tamara White-Smith kept Lions in touch, but the hosts finished the quarter strongly to lead.
Janneh and Lavinier both dropped threes to open the fourth period and Janneh’s lay-up took the deficit down to 54-59 with three minutes gone. But was as close as the visitors could get despite Janneh and Lavinier continuing the three-point barrage as Archers held on for the win.
