Newcastle Eagles take to their home court for the second time in 2025 tonight hoping for a better result than 7 days previous against Sheffield Hatters.

This time their opponents are Nottingham Wildcats who arrive at the Vertu Motors Arena today with 2 wins 6 losses in the Super League Basketball Championship this season, making this a very winnable game for Newcastle who will be looking to improve their record to 5 wins and 2 loses.

Last time out against Sheffield the Eagles lost their first game under Head Coach Chloe Gaynor who had guided her side to four straight wins following her appointment at the end of November.

Gaynor and her players will be looking to get back to winning ways tonight and if they are to do so they will need star American forward Tierra Hodges to put that Sheffield game behind and put up the numbers she’s renowned across the League for.

Hodges is averaging 19.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game and leads her team in both categories. However, such was Sheffield’s dominance she was restricted to 11 points and 5 rebounds in last week’s heavy loss.

Something the energetic, athletic forward wants to put right tonight as she previewed the clash against The Wildcats.

Hodges said: “Last week was tough. We didn’t come out we didn’t play the best like the way we knew how. It just wasn’t us last week So this week was really focusing on watching film of that and focusing on fixing those things for this week.”

“I feel like this year everybody can beat anybody so every game you have to come out with your best and hopefully the better team will be us and we’ll get the win.”

Not having powerhouse London Lions to deal with this campaign does appear to make things look more competitive across the League and certainly Hodges has not missed a beat as she once again establishes herself as one of the league’s dominant stars.

“I feel like I went out of my game a little bit last weekend. The game kind of get in my head a bit and I tried to force shots”, the forward added

“This week I’m focusing on trying to get my rhythm back and hopefully I’m a little more confident against Nottingham.”

“I’ve learned a lot throughout the years that you’ve just got to play and deal with it regardless and hope for the best. I’m trying not to beat myself up about that game too much. It all happens and we all have games like that.”

“As long as I learn from it, bounce back and just continue to be who I am I know I’ll be fine.”

Hodges is in no doubt what she and her teammates need to do to establish the keys to the game as they look for an important win.

“We must focus on us. It’s our defence. Making sure we get back in transition, we’re executing our plays with timing and pace. Just being who we are and knowing who we need to be.”

“I think it will be a great match-up for us to see that it’ll be another good test for us. As long as we come out play as us, play our defence and execute on offence it’ll be a good game and I think we’ll be good.”

Tip-off at the Vertu Motors Arena is at the usual time of 7:30pm and Hodges and her teammates are hoping for a good crowd to help spur them on to an important win.

Tickets are available from the box office and on the door.