Lions Roar Back: London Edges Chicago 99-93 in Pro League Thriller
Hassan's Double-Double Powers Lions Past Wolves in Intense Showdown
LONDON – The London Lions clawed their way back from an early deficit to secure a hard-fought 99-93 victory over the Chicago Wolves on Saturday night, a crucial win that strengthens their playoff push in the Pro League. The Lions overcame a disciplined Wolves squad that, despite their shooting struggles, found ways to keep the game close until the final buzzer.
The game began with both teams exchanging blows, but the Wolves, led by the sharp shooting of Jian Zhao, managed to build a slender lead through the first quarter. Zhao was a thorn in the Lions’ side, carving through their defense for crucial buckets. However, the Lions, spurred on by their home crowd at the Copper Box Arena, began to chip away at the lead in the second.
A key turning point came late in the third quarter. Down by five, the Lions’ Aisha Hassan ignited a surge with a clutch three-pointer. This basket, followed by a relentless defensive effort that produced several key stops, shifted the momentum decisively. Hassan was a force on both ends, notching a double-double and making critical plays down the stretch.
“We knew it was going to be a battle,” said Lions Head Coach, Anya Sharma. “Chicago is a tough team, and they tested us. But our resilience shone through tonight. Aisha was incredible, leading the charge when we needed it most.”
The fourth quarter saw a back-and-forth affair, with the Lions finally pulling away in the final two minutes. Freya Lund, who finished as the Lions’ leading scorer, hit several key jumpers, while Katya Smirnov provided crucial rebounding and interior presence.
For the Wolves, Julian Santos orchestrated their offense with an impressive 8 assists and added 10 points and 9 rebounds, but Chicago’s 60.6% free throw shooting proved to be their undoing. “We fought hard, but missed opportunities at the line really hurt us,” commented Wolves’ Captain, Elara Jones.
Key Notes:
- Aisha Hassan recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
- Julian Santos dished out 8 assists for the Chicago Wolves.
- The London Lions out-rebounded the Wolves 48-47.
- Jian Zhao scored 16 points for Chicago, but the Wolves shot just 34.1% from the field.