A record-breaking afternoon and a game for the ages in the SLB Women’s Championship. No-one that was there is going to forget this contest in a hurry that’s for sure. Sheffield and Newcastle served up what, at least offensively, must have been one of the best games in top-flight women’s basketball.

The aggregate points tally of 216 being a record for a game at this level as well as being the first time ever that both sides had scored over 100 points in a senior match-up as well. It was a game that was a magnificent advert for the Women’s game and left everyone watching breathless.

But in the end it was ultimately disappointing for a Newcastle side who perhaps could never imagined scoring 105 points on the road at Sheffield and not coming away with a win. Both side’s offences were electric on an afternoon where so many individuals stepped up for both sides in a brilliant encounter.

For The Eagles it was a defeat that probably means a second-place finish in the table is beyond them although on this form and with this level of performance a top four placing is well within their grasp.

That’s for the final three games to decide but credit has to go despite this defeat to Head Coach Chloe Gaynor and her team for being in that conversation. They have had a magnificent season and to stand at 12 wins and only 5 losses at this stage of the campaign is testament to their efforts.

This though was the fourth time this season they have come up against The Hatters and the fourth time they have tasted defeat. Perhaps Sheffield are a side Newcastle will want to avoid in the end of season playoffs.

Newcastle scored well in the first half and to have 49 points at the break was indeed a great effort. The problem was at the other end where a red-hot Hatters side went even better and netted an incredible 63 points in the opening twenty minutes.

Gaynor’s side had lead by seven early on their biggest lead of the game. But Sheffield fought their way back to take the lead with 8-points unanswered. From their the remainder of the first period was an offensive dogfight that Hatters just edged 30 – 28 at the end of it.

The second quarter was tight early on but Sheffield powered their way to a 63 – 49 lead as the side’s headed to the locker rooms on the back of a 19 – 8 run to the half-time buzzer. The third though really showed the metal of this Newcastle team as they fought back in tremendous fashion.

Taking the third ten-minute period by 33 points to 22 they were back within three points as the final quarter loomed. In that final stretch a tremendous see-saw battle unfolded and either side looked capable of the win.

It was Hatters though who held their nerve as Newcastle in foul trouble conceded trips to the charity stripe for the home side whose last ten points to close out the game all came from free-throws. That perhaps the biggest statistic in the game.

Sheffield made 32 free-throws from 37 visits. Newcastle 16 from 19 visits. It was a crucial difference and one that Gaynor and her players may well ponder as they review the game once they, like everyone else, have got their breath back.

For Newcastle, Captain Tierra Hodges led the way with 29 points, Jada Guinn had 23 plus 8 assists whilst Kendall Currence who fouled out of the game late had 17. Lauren Saiki produced an incredible double-double of 16 points and an unbelievable 16 assists whilst Shannon Hatch had 11 points.

A defeat but not a disheartening one for the Eagles who will regroup, reassess and go again as they look to clinch a top-four berth and a home advantage game in the playoffs.

After the visit to Nottingham this weekend, Chloe Gaynor’s side prepare for their final home game of the regular season next Saturday night with tickets selling fast on the box office for this special tip-off.