The old adage of a ‘win is a win’ was probably never truer than on Friday night in the Vertu Arena. After three quarters the Newcastle Eagles looked to be cruising to a big victory over the Leicester Riders. But a very nervy uncharacteristic final ten minutes almost cost them a vital win.

Coaches analyse and help players reflect. There’s no doubting that Head Coach Chloe Gaynor and her staff will do exactly that and try to fathom out how the Eagles got into such a tight finish. But that’s easier to do and learn from after a win than after a loss.

Credit to Riders. They came into the Arena on the back of nine straight losses. One of which included a 75-66 defeat at home back in December to their hosts on Friday. For much of the game, although they stuck around a tenth defeat looked inevitable.

So, it proved in the end but not after they put up a terrific fight that certainly gave Newcastle a huge scare particularly in that final ten minutes. But somehow despite Leicester’s efforts it always felt that Newcastle would walk away with the win and so it proved.

Basketball is a team sport. You play as a team and win or lose as a team. However, there’s no doubting that within that team structure you need those individuals that can tip the balance in your favour. Newcastle certainly had that in Andrea Daley.

The rookie professional continues to light up the SLB leading the league in both points scored and rebounds taken. She is perhaps the most dominant individual force in the SLB right now. Teams come with a plan but are, at times powerless to stop her.

This game once again proved that. Another double-double of 33 points and 10 rebounds throwing in 3 assists and 6 steals for good measure. It was the very high platform that her teammates fed off and enabled them to get over the line.

Her third quarter performance being the highlight as she poured in 20 of her game-high total in that ten minutes alone. That was the decisive period and gave Newcastle that breathing room that they should not have needed for the final period but did.

Shanique Lucas also had a fine game particularly in the first half when she set the tone for the Eagles. Of her game total 17 points, 15 came in the first 20 minutes. She added in nine rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals as well in an all-action trademark energetic effort.

It was also great for the Eagles to have Alyssa Marin back in the fold. The first-year rookie guard is having a double-digit scoring season and continued that. Her 11-point contribution following her return from injury a crucial injection into the Newcastle cause.

All of that necessary as once again the Eagles went into the game understrength. Jada Dapaa still out with injury although very close to a return. Dapaa was joined on the sidelines by Maria Mongomo who will for good reasons spend the rest of the season supporting from the bench.

Mongomo announcing her pregnancy this week that means she will miss the rest of the season. Great news for her personally but from a playing point of view not so good for the Eagles. They will miss not just her dynamic performances but the extended minutes she always played.

But Head Coach Chloe Gaynor will not accept that as an excuse as this team adopt that ‘next player up’ mentality that has been the story of their season. To have a winning 8-5 record at this stage of the season after all the adversity they have gone through is a huge credit to all.

The Eagles started well on Friday and two early triples from Lucas allowed them to ease out to a 12-4 advantage early in the proceedings. Leicester showed their first signs of determination to pull back within 4. The period ending on a Daley deuce that gave Newcastle a 19-13 lead.

Leicester continued their fight in the second quarter and chipped away at the Eagles lead. A Louise Gibbins triple giving them their first lead of the night at 24-23 after an 11-4 burst. But back came Newcastle with Daley starting to get going, Lucas flowing and Marin joining the party.

They combined well to get the lead back to six points at 40-34 as the two sides headed to the locker rooms to take things over. A tied quarter at 21-21 but one where Leicester had shown that they, despite their results had fight and desire.

The third quarter was simply astonishing especially if your name was Andrea Daley. She simply took the team on her back and the game over with bucket after bucket as suddenly Newcastle went up a gear.

Big runs dominated by the League’s finest enabled Eagles to fly ahead. A couple of buckets from Alex Campbell helping their cause as well. But of the last 16 points Newcastle scored n the period 14 of them came from the unstoppable Daley, Sarah Wells netting the other two.

It all meant a 28-16 period that saw Newcastle enter the final ten minutes 68-50 in front and with the game seemingly over. Leicester though had other ideas. Led by American guard Jada Holland who finished with 17 points they shut the Eagles down in that final period.

Holland receiving great support from GB International Katie Januszewska with 10 points, Gibbins with 11 rebounds to go with her 10 points for a solid double-double, the inside play of Mercy Ademusayo garnering her 18 points and captain Brooke Biggott had 13 points.

Eagles still led 72-57 with five minutes to play but a superb fighting 13-1 run from Riders cut the deficit to a single three-point basket margin. Eagles though held on. Marin cooly slotting two from two from the charity stripe to give them that vital gap and then Daley adding her 33rd point.

When the Eagles played fast direct transition basketball from defence to offensive, they were very good. When they got stuck in a half-court set, not so. That may well be the lessons to learn but for now, they take a vital win and move on.