Severn Stars took on bottom of the table Celtic Dragons at the University of Worcester Arena on Monday, March 7.
The Dragons looked to right their wrongs from their previous games as they led 16-10 at the end of quarter one.
Stars fought back but Dragons proved to be too much for the home side as they continued to lead 29-23 at half time.
Despite their fight and determination, Stars lost out in the remaining half and suffered a damaging 42-58 loss.
Speaking after the game, goalkeeper Lucy Herdman insisted the team were still in good spirit and have each other's back despite recent results, and believes their time will come with all their hard work they are putting in.
Former Stars goal shooter Georgia Rowe opened the scoring for her new side after the Dragons’ mid court players were able to overturn play.
It wasn’t long before Stars equalised after fast build up play from midcourt duo Bethan Dyke and captain Liana Leota, found the arms of Katie Harris who converted her shot.
Dyke looked to create a fast attack, but her high looping pass was quickly cut out after the C was quick to react and prevent the threat.
Harris put in some defensive work after intercepting the Dragons mid court play and was there to tip the ball over to Reed who capitalised and scored.
A quick one-two with Dyke, Harris converted her attempt after fast build up play from the Stars mid-court players.
The Dragons continued to pressure the Stars after untouchable play between the side and continued to increase their lead.
Stars captain Leota played an in-the-air pass to find Paige Reed in aches of space where she calmly dispatched her shot.
Dragons were quick to react and turned over play but a long ranger from Lefebre Rademan, Summer Artman and Herdman were rapid to respond and collected the rebound to recycle play.
As the first quarter drew to a close, Harris scored a fast double to reduce the deficit to just six goals as the two sides headed into the break at 10-16.
Heading into the second quarter, Melissa Bessell made a double change which saw Dee Bolakoro and Nicole Humphrys replace Iman Thomas and Artman.
Dragons were quick off the blocks as they looked to increase their lead by seven goals after Rowe and Rademan linked up to convert their shots.
Last game’s player of the match Humphrys wasted no time in making an impact after she was there to turn play over as she flew into intercept Dragons’ attack.
Stars continued to grow into the quarter as the mid court duo of Dyke and Leota once again linked up to create a fast rhythm of play where there found Reed who drew a foul from Shaquanda Greene-Noel and converted the penalty.
Dragons were tough to break down after captain Jones, Clare Jones and Annabel Roddy controlled the midcourt, but a strategic no-look pass from Leota found Harris in shooting range who scored her effort.
After Rowe’s effort, Herdman was fully focused and was first to the rebound to prevent any further danger for the home side.
The half drew to an end as Stars trailed 23-29 going into quarter three.
Stars centre, Dyke, made a runoff the back of Jones and peeled away from the centre into space where she found Reed who capitalised.
Dragons began to run away with the game after drawing a 10-goal lead after four consecutive goals from Rowe.
Bessell freshened things up as Herdman and Bolakoro made way for Thomas and Artman as they looked to change up the defence.
Dragons’ Shona O’Dwyer battled with Thomas in the mid court but it was the visitor who came out with the ball and looked to spread the play across the face of the centre.
Jane Taylor came on to replace Harris as Bessell looked to increase the pace of the game heading into the final stages of Q3.
Captain Leota spotted the fast pace of Taylor instantly as she made an overlapping run into the box where she converted her attempt.
Harris and Michelle Drayne entered the court for the remaining 15 minutes with the goal shooter called straight into action where she capitalised.
The Dragons hit half a century of goals after Rowe held off Artman to receive the pass but Stars instantly replied with a quick run of play from Leota and Dyke.
Stars weren’t giving up and continued to fight as Dyke and Leota looked to quickly play the ball into the arms of Harris who sunk her shot.
A last-minute change from Stars as Elisha New entered the court and injected her fast and energetic pace into the game with Bessell’s side looking to reduce the score line.
A fast one-two between Leota and Reed saw the game draw to an end as the shooter converted the final goal, but it wasn’t enough as Dragons came out on top to win 58-42.
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