Lions Women II were unable to repeat last week’s shock win against Loughborough Riders as they went down 69-47 on Saturday when the Division One men were beaten 106-61 by reigning champions Solent Kestrels.
David Lavinier’s team gave a good account of themselves in the first half at Loughborough before being outscored 41-22 in the second half, but will look to bounce back when they face Reading Rockets in a crunch game on Saturday.
Grace Strickland returned from injury to lead Lions for the first time this season, finishing with 13 points and three assists Tinu Fakunle added 11 points for a depleted London side who were without recent signings Wura Ijelu and Rachae Walton with only six players seeing court time while Fatmata Janneh added nine points and six boards in 40 minutes of action. Louise Rouse led the home side with 21 points and nine rebounds.
Riders started well with Rouse’s jump shot putting them 14-5 ahead with three first period minutes remaining, but Strickland’s drive to the basket speaking a 7-0 finish to the period as Janneh’s basket cut the arrears to 14-12 going into the first break.
Lions stayed in touch in the opening minutes of the second period but Powell’s lay-up made it a ten-point game with 4:36 on the clock before Janneh’s free-throws started a 9-2 run with triples from Fakumle and Nicholle Lavinier slicing Riders’ lead to 28-25 at half-time.
A pair of Strickland triples tied the score at 34 with 5:43 gone in the third period but as Lions’ short rotation started to tire the home side reeled off 12 straight points and went into the final break 52-36 ahead.
An and-one from Chenai Mushroe gave Lions a good start to the fourth period but Riders replied with a 9-0 run and even though Strickland hit her third triple of the game there was no stopping the title contenders as they wrapped up the win.
It was a familiar story at Barking Abbey as Solent continued their seemingly relentless push for a record fourth straight league title with a comfortable win against a young Lions side who were still without guar Jase Harrisons.
Brandon Tchouya led London with 17 points, six rebounds and three assists with Elliot Maynard adding 16 points and three boards but no other Lion added more than Zach Weluche’s seven points. American forward Travis Charles led Solent, finishing with 19 points in as many minutes, adding ten rebounds.
Lions started well with Maynard’s jump shot giving them an 11-9 lead after six four minutes but Elliot Dadds’ triple sparked an 8-2 run and although Techouya got Lions back within a point, Kestrels closed out the period on a 16-4 run to lead 31-19 at the first break.
Kestrels scored the first six points of the second period and took control of the game as they outscored the home side 36-7 to take an unassailable 67-26 lead into the locker room. And although Lions shaded the third period 23-21, Kestrels wrapped things us with an 18-12 final quarter.
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