It was an afternoon of experimentation and learning for coach Noelia Cacheiro and her Eagles women as they opened their preseason campaign with a tough loss to the visiting Leicester Riders.

The Eagles play-caller had at her disposal a deep and diverse roster, featuring a blend of returning Eagles, new-additions and talented University athletes eager to gain valuable game-time experience and enhance their fitness levels in preparation for their respective seasons.

The fans inside the Vertu Motors Arena were also keen to see the new-look Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles women take to the court after what has felt like a long summer without any hoops action for our women’s team.

However, it was the sharpshooting prowess of the Leicester side, particularly from beyond the three-point line, that proved to be the deciding factor in this physical encounter.

The Riders started the game with 10 straight points without reply and that seemed to set the tone for the remainder of the game, with Leicester maintaining a comfortable buffer between themselves and the home team.

The Eagles experimented several times during the game by heavily rotating their players, ensuring that each member of the roster received valuable minutes on the court and giving Cacheiro and Orwin lots to think about ahead of the next game.

The first of two preseason games this week was also a chance for newly-landed Eagles Cherita Daugherty and Princess Adeogun to sample the Vertu Motors Arena in the famous black and white jersey, something which will have no doubt played a part in their decision to join the franchise.

As the final buzzer sounded, the game undoubtedly provided the Eagles coaching staff with plenty of points to consider ahead of their second preseason matchup against the Sheffield Hatters, scheduled for next Saturday evening.

Ticket’s for this coming Saturday’s game against the Sheffield Hatters are available from the box office.