Oaklands Wolves came into the game having finished top of the league and having beaten the Hatters, who ended the season in second, home and away during the regular season.

It was the table toppers who made the stronger start and looked like they might end their wait for their first league play-off win.

The Hertfordshire side raced into an eight-point lead before the Hatters were able to get on the board and took a 10-point advantage into the break after the opening quarter.

That lead stretched to 12 midway through the second period but 12 unanswered points from the Hatters put the sides level 32-32 at half-time.

Sheffield took the lead for the first time in the match through Singleton’s lay-up early in the third quarter, before both sides scored a flurry of points as the game opened up.

Destinee Walker netted four free throws in the final minute of the quarter to turn the match in Sheffield’s favour with an eight-point advantage going into the final 10 minutes.

A long-range jump shot from Georgia Gayle, named the final’s Most Valuable Player, gave the Hatters a 12-point cushion with eight minutes of the tie remaining, before the game’s 23-point top scorer Ashby inspired Wolves’ late fightback at the end of a thrilling game.