The Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles women’s roster faces a very tough assignment this weekend in the Women’s British Basketball League.
A double-header of games against Leicester Riders at home on Saturday night and then Nottingham Wildcats away on Sunday is a difficult proposition indeed.
The Eagles also go into the game on a three-game losing run and are yet to win a game this calendar year. Leicester on the other hand have only lost two league games all season both of those to League leaders London Lions.
The Wildcats who came to the Vertu Motors Arena for a Betty Cordona Trophy contest back in early January and went away with a win seem to have turned their season on its head.
After losing their first seven league games they have since won their last three and are in the sort of form that Newcastle are striving to find and emulate. It certainly makes for a far from easy task for Matt Newby’s side.
The Eagles though are still in determined mood and have the belief that they can make a good run at the end of season play-offs but they have to start turning that belief into reality as soon as they can.
They will be boosted this weekend by the arrival of ex-Fordham University graduate Jada Dapaa. The 5’ 11” powerful inside forward who is an excellent rebounder and defensive presence has arrived as the final piece of this season’s Eagles jigsaw.
She will be joining Eagles star forward Tierra Hodges in the front court and looking to bring some well needed additional punch to a Newcastle line-up that lost 102 – 56 in last Sunday’s outing at Oaklands College against London Lions.
Hodges, as has been the case in all her Eagles outings so far, was the mainstay of Newby’s side in that game with 21 points and 6 rebounds showing she can mix it with the very best The League can offer.
The December League Player of the Month summed up her current feelings as she looked forward to this weekend’s games.
“London are a very tough team. The first time we played them was before I got here so last week was my first time against them. It was tough and much respect to London as they have a real good roster and team.”
“I went in there not expecting anything crazy just playing me being me and at the same time we all play basketball and we’re all here to compete. I just stuck with what my strengths were and was able to perform pretty well against such a tough side.”
“This weekend is another tough test for us. Despite the score I thought we showed a lot of promise in the London game and a lot of what we’ve been working on in the last three weeks. If we can bring that this weekend I’m excited to see what we can do.”
“I like the way the games are scheduled. We need all the energy and rest we can get for the Leicester game. Nottingham is also going to be tough given that we did lose to them at home but I like that we’ve got Leicester at home first and can give it our best shot.”
“I’m also excited that we’ve brought Jada in. She’s practised with us all this week and showed a lot of promise and will be a great addition to our team. Hopefully it gives us that push to progress and I’m excited that we’ve finally got our last piece for the team.”
A home debut for Dapaa against Leicester Riders in the Vertu Motors Arena will certainly give the Eagles franchise and fans a chance to see what difference the forward will make to the roster.
