Newcastle Eagles got back to winning ways down in Cardiff on Saturday afternoon. Their excellent 105-53 road victory taking their Championship record up to six wins and three losses and keeping them in touch with the top four of the division.

It was another win achieved whilst being short-handed. Whilst their injury situation is still restricting their rotations, they did at least have sufficient personnel to field a competitive side even though a couple of players were on medically enforced reduced minutes.

That two were forward Jada Dapaa who despite that still started the game and guard Shanique Lucas who was on the bench but came off it during the forty minutes to really make her time on court count.

With Alyssa Marin still out with a broken hand and Lucas restricted, Head Coach Chloe Gaynor sprang a surprise on many including the Archers by asking star forward Andrea Daley to play the point guard position.

It proved to be a masterstroke as the rookie American responded superbly to shrug off her recent injury worries to produce an MVP performance netting 33 points adding in 4 rebounds and 4 assists in a highly effective efficient person.

She was well supported by Maria Mongomo returning to her early season form and shooting so well from beyond the arc in particular and playing a big part for her side on the glass. Her final tally being a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds.

Lucas was as usual her energetic bundle of energy contributing across the stats sheet with an excellent line of 20 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists. Sarah Wells being the other Eagle in double figures. She continues to grow within the structure netting 16 points and 4 rebounds.

In the end it was statistics that all added up to an excellent afternoon’s work for Gaynor’s side and the reward of a welcome win for their fine offensive performance.

Gaynor often talks, like a lot of coaches, about how good defence can lead to effective offence. That was certainly the case in the second half of the contest. Eagles restricting their hosts to only 18 points in the final twenty minutes whilst pouring in 52 of their own.

The first quarter had been tight for long periods. Cardiff even getting in front  by 4 points on two occasions. Newcastle though closed out the quarter with a 9-0 run to give themselves a seven-point lead at 25-18.

Cardiff stayed with the Eagles for a while in the second period and were within six at one stage. But a 14-2 burst that included two triples from Wells and Daley and Mongomo also prominent eased Newcastle to a 53-35 lead at the break.

Daley continued to torment and blunt the Archers as the second half opened and combined with her teammates for an early run of twelve unanswered points to put what was effectively the final nail in the Archers coffin as Newcastle’s lead soared upwards.

Gaynor didn’t take the brakes off either once the victory was sealed. Her rotations managing to keep everyone fresh and sharp as her players enjoyed themselves down in the Welsh capital bringing home a very satisfying win.

The Eagles Women tip-off at home next weekend with a Valentines night game against the Sheffield Hatters. Tickets are still available on the box office.