Oaklands Wolves couldn’t make it two wins from two as they went down to a 89-68 defeat to Manchester Mystics at Oaklands College in the Women’s British Basketball League (WBBL).

The 81-79 victory over Cardiff Met Archers on Saturday night in the WBBL Cup was the first in the franchise’s history, and came at only the second time of asking.

But this was a different proposition against a well-drilled Mystics outfit and means they are still looking for a win in the league.

Oaklands are making a habit in their short existence of starting slowly and this was no exception.

They trailed 12-1 after less than three minutes forcing coach Kenrick Liburd to call a time-out.

It brought about an increase in energy but they couldn’t dramatically close the gap.

By the end of the first quarter they trailed 21-13 and Manchester picked it up in the second with Georgia Jones instrumental in most of her team’s play.

She accounted for 22 of her side’s points in the opening 20 minutes and along with the rest of her team, Manchester led the Wolves defence a merry dance at times.

Shooting was the main problem with Wolves profligate with the ball in hand.

They did have chances, but of 14 trips to the free-throw line, they were only successful on six of them.

Kyla Nelson finished the half with 10 and Amber Charles eight but it was the visitors who departed for the locker rooms with a healthy 47-25 lead.

The pattern improved early in the third quarter with Wolves grabbing the first five points of the half.

But Manchester again seemed to be dialled in to everything they did.

Shots seemed to find the net with more regularity and rebounds were always destined for a red hand.

They increased their lead to 34 points by the end of the period, despite Wolves recorded an improved 19 points of their own.

The fourth quarter was the best of the bunch for Wolves.

Manchester were noticeably a much-more physical side and whether that affected the young Oaklands squad was debatable.

However, they went toe to toe in the last 10 minutes, recording a period win of 24-11.

It will hopefully give them much more confidence going into the rest of the season.

Wolves: Charles, Nelson, Freeman, A.Nagy, Fulop

Bench: Spinks, Adhokorie, Christie, K.Nagy, Turner, Gobi

Points: Nelson 19, Charles 12, Turner 10, Freeman, A.Nagy 7, Fulop 6, Spinks 5, Christie 2

Mystics: Welling, Jones, Bailey, Clayden, Allen

Bench: Lucas, Potter, Simmons, Bueri Beri, James, Schwellenbach

Points: Jones 30, Schwellwnbach 16, Bailey 15, Allen 6, Welling 5, Clayden, Simmons, Bueri Beri 4, Lucas 3, Potter 2