Oaklands Wolves missed the chance to make it three wins from three in the Women’s British Basketball League as they fell to a 59-56 defeat at home to Barking Abbey London Lions.

Herts Advertiser: Oaklands Wolves hosted Barking Abbey London Lions in the WBBL at the Oaklands College Sportszone.Oaklands Wolves hosted Barking Abbey London Lions in the WBBL at the Oaklands College Sportszone. (Image: Archant)

But in a game where they trailed for long periods, and by some distance, they almost pulled off a stunning comeback.

Trailing 53-36 with five minutes to go, Oaklands put together 16 unanswered points to have the Sportszone fans on their feet with 90 seconds to go.

A couple of contentious decisions though reversed the momentum and left them with mere seconds to land a big three-pointer to bring them level.

In the end the clock ran down on a brave fight and left the visiting Barking side celebrating.

Herts Advertiser: Oaklands Wolves hosted Barking Abbey London Lions in the WBBL at the Oaklands College Sportszone.Oaklands Wolves hosted Barking Abbey London Lions in the WBBL at the Oaklands College Sportszone. (Image: Archant)

The game though had started brightly for the Wolves.

Victories over Essex Rebels and Durham Palatinates had made it a happy end to 2018 and that confidence saw them take a 16-7 lead.

But from there they were victims of their own downfall against another side battling to make the end of season play-offs.

They had plenty of the ball but their shooting radar was most definitely out of sorts.

Herts Advertiser: Oaklands Wolves hosted Barking Abbey London Lions in the WBBL at the Oaklands College Sportszone.Oaklands Wolves hosted Barking Abbey London Lions in the WBBL at the Oaklands College Sportszone. (Image: Archant)

Barking turned things completely around in the second quarter, taking their opportunities when they came, to take a five-point half-time into half-time and with former Wolves’ youngster Loren Christie hitting two big three-point efforts, that lead was up to 10 by the time the final period began.

Christie bagged another three points, and was mere inches away from adding a fourth from distance, instead having to settle for another two, as Barking enjoyed an 8-0 run to open the last 10 minutes.

That killed any lingering hopes that Wolves had of mounting a comeback, or so it seemed.

Three pointers from Lizzy Harrison and then Roya Rustamzada, started the fightback and even the departure of the home skipper didn’t stop the fight.

Herts Advertiser: Oaklands Wolves hosted Barking Abbey London Lions in the WBBL at the Oaklands College Sportszone.Oaklands Wolves hosted Barking Abbey London Lions in the WBBL at the Oaklands College Sportszone. (Image: Archant)

One decision to award the visitors a restart brought a foul and two points from the free-throw line.

It proved enough to get the Lions over the line.