
For most of the first half, Sheffield were chasing. Oaklands had rhythm, confidence, and a twelve-point lead to show for it. Sheffield needed to change something. What they found—right before halftime—was the paint. With 2:43 left in the second quarter, Oaklands were inbounding under their own basket. But the play broke down before it began.

Georgia Gayle knew the game was slipping away. Her frustration was evident in the first quarter as B. Braun Sheffield Hatters struggled to keep pace. They needed a perfect game to match the Oaklands Wolves, but things were already starting to unravel. Oaklands were in the midst of an 11-0 run, steadily widening the gap.