Bradford Dragons have plenty of consolations after their 55-51 defeat to Birmingham Mets in the English Women's Basketball League Division Two play-off semi-final.

The Dragons not only won their league (Two North) and the National Trophy in their debut season but established an 18-3 win-loss record.

Birmingham, who were ranked second nationally, had won the Midlands South West Division and a tough game was expected against the third-ranked Dragons.

Mets started the game guard heavy, while the Dragons, who were missing starting guard Steph Jones due to work commitments, began with a bigger line-up to create multiple mismatches against a man-to-man defence.

However, it was Mets who took the initial advantage, playing at a higher tempo to create a 12-4 lead.

As the Dragons settled into the game and stepped up their defensive effort, trading basket for basket, Dragons' Lizzie Malek entered the game with immediate impact, grabbing the rebounds and hitting both free throws, leaving the first quarter at 19-13 to the Mets.

Mets established an eight-point lead in the second quarter but in the third minute Dragons’ Aleksandra Mazjakina drove down the centre of the court, jumped high and scored over three Mets players while picking up the foul for a three-point play.

Mazjakina hit two of two free throws to bring it back to a three-point game at 23-20 but Mets managed to refocus and rebuild their eight-point lead at 28-20.

Once again Dragons stepped up their defensive intensity, controlling the rebounds, and Dragons' captain Laura Moloney and Vilma Jurgaityte made their shots count, followed by Mazjakina hitting a last-second three-pointer to finish the half on a 9-0 run and take a 29-28 half-time lead!

Mets opened up the second half quickly, regaining the lead, but Dragons continued their second quarter momentum, working hard to snatch the advantage back, Malek and Natalia Laing hitting a basket each to finish the quarter with a 43-36 lead.

With ten minutes remaining both teams knew what they had to do to secure a place in the play-off final but Mets initially stepped up the pressure, going on a 10-2 run, only Isalie Bloemen - coming back from illness - making her shot count for Dragons.

Mets were now in a 46-45 lead but Mazjakina and Moloney both scored to turn that into a 49-47 home deficit with three minutes left.  

Mets quickly evened things up and profited from the free-throw line as several marginal calls went against the Dragons.

In the final minute, Moloney hit the basket to keep the score within two points at 51-49 with 19 seconds left.

Following a time-out, Dragons looked to steal the ball in the half-court but in failing to do so quickly stopped the clock with a foul.

Mets made one or two free-throws to keep the game within three points but Dragons missed their shot and lost possession, having to quickly foul again to stop the clock.

This time Mets hit two out of two to finish the game with a 55-51 victory and reach the play-off final.

Dragons' coach Mark Gunn said: "We knew we had to minimise Mets’ key threats (Rebecca Brindley, Rodrigues-Thomas Amani and Gemma Salmon) and regardless of giving away a few easy baskets, our hustling team defence was there for the majority of the game, keeping Mets to their lowest score on their home court during 2012-13!

"But this was a disappointing loss for the players and myself as we had the opportunities to rise to the occasion and take a step closer to finishing the season with the treble (league title, National Trophy and national championship) but with an unusually low shooting percentage we just couldn’t take control and close out the game when needed.

"Naturally there are ‘what ifs’ but we will all learn from the loss and in reflecting upon 2012-13 it has been a fantastic first season as an unknown team in the senior England Basketball National League, with all the players earning the deserved praise for helping establish the Dragons women’s basketball programme, supported by the University of Bradford, as a force at national level.

"We will work hard throughout the summer on and off the court continuing the programme’s development into it’s third year and look forwards to returning in 2013-14!”

Gunn added: “Congratulations to coach Emmanuel Olaiya and Birmingham Mets in making the play-offs final, and we wish them luck against Bristol Storm.

"Mets will be the favourites as ranked second nationally compared to Bristol’s fourth but it will be interesting to watch the game and see if Bristol can learn from our mistakes and cause an upset.”

Dragons scorers: Aleksandra Mazjakina (21, 3 of 3 free-throws), Vilma Jurgaityte, Laura Moloney (8, 2 of 5), Natalia Laing (5, 1 of 4), Lizzie Malek (4, 2 of 2), Isalie Bloemen (3, 1 of 2), Rosie Pearcy, Lilita Smelina, Laima Smelina.

Bristol Storm won 53-46 at Solent Suns in the other semi-final and will meet Birmingham in the final on Satrurday at Nottingham Wildcats' Arena (2.15).

Bradford Dragons will be hosting open women’s basketball summer workout sessions for players aged 16or above at Bradford College Sports Hall (Trinity Road, Bradford BD5 9JE) on Thursdays (7.30pm-9pm) at £3 a session, starting this Thursday and continuing until August 29.