Coupeville Sports

Coupeville’s Makana Stone (far left), with some of her pro hoops teammates. (Photo property Leicester Riders)

She’s back at full force.

Coupeville’s Makana Stone, who worked her way back from an injury, returned to the starting lineup Saturday and poured in a team-high 18 points in a tense Women’s British Basketball League clash.

While the Leicester Riders fell 60-53 to the Manchester Met Mystics, the offensive outburst was the best the former Wolf has achieved in her first season as a pro player.

Stone also snatched five rebounds and made off with a steal as her squad fell to 6-3 in league play, 9-4 overall.

With the loss, Leicester drops into a fourth-place tie with Manchester in the 13-team WBBL.

The game was a close one, but Manchester used a run in the second quarter to salt the victory away.

Up 14-11 after one period, the Met Mystics claimed a 21-13 advantage in the second frame to carry a 35-24 lead in to halftime.

Leicester trimmed the margin down to 46-39 after three, but couldn’t make it all the way back.

Brooklyn Mcalear tossed in 16 points to back up Stone, while Manchester countered with the one-two combo of Lauren Thomas-Johnson and Erika Williams, who went for 21 and 20, respectively.

Stone has racked up 82 points, 62 rebounds, 13 assists, and eight steals as a pro.

The Riders return to action next Sunday, Dec. 19, when they face off with the Sevenoaks Suns, who sit atop the WBBL with a 9-0 record.