The Eagles loyal fan base and everyone connected with the Club witnessed one of the greatest second half performances from a Newcastle team in their storied franchise on Saturday night. In the Vertu Motors Arena Newcastle’s women produced a devasting effort to blow Cardiff away.

In truth the demolition of a game and competent Met Archers side started before the last dramatic twenty minutes but it will be those minutes in particular that will live longest in the memories of everyone that watched, played and coached in the game from an Eagles point of view.

Cardiff came into the game having won three of their last four games in the SLB and running league leaders Oaklands Wolves to within eight points before losing a close encounter against a team the Eagles had lost too by 16 points the week before.

A much-improved Cardiff side from the one Newcastle beat by 35 points earlier in the season down in Wales. For just under a quarter and a half the visitors showed that improvement and gave Newcastle quite a game.

Taking the first quarter by 21 to 19 Cardiff were still up by three at 28 to 25 with 6:25 to go in the second and looking every inch a team that were ready to take the game all the way but Newcastle had other ideas.

The Eagles simply clicked into another gear got going and showed the power, commitment, togetherness and all-round scoring ability that they’ve shown all season. Add in superb lockdown defence and the game completely changed around.

Thirteen unanswered points took the Eagles into a lead that was decisive as they were never headed again and indeed took that momentum into a superb final twenty minutes. They won quarter 3 by 31 – 10 and the final stanza by 31 – 12 to complete a magnificent 47-point win.

Shooting over 70% in that second half was one thing to net 62 points but defensively Newcastle were dominate as well. Forcing 17 turnovers and taking 15 steals to restrict Cardiff to a mere 22 points in the final two periods. Eye-catching statistics indeed.

Everywhere you looked Newcastle had someone somewhere that contributed in a great team performance that saw five players in double figures and two fall just short. Eagles were led by point guard Lyric Swann who stepped off the bench to have a breakthrough game as a rookie professional.

Swann who by her own admission has been frustrated with her lack of game time showed that once she gets in the groove and her confidence is high can produce the goods. It’ll give Head Coach Chloe Gaynor a nice additional option in her already well-drilled and oiled outfit going forward.

Swann hit 4 of 5 triples on her way to an Eagles game high of 20 points. Jada Guinn was efficient as always with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 5 steals. Abby Lowe came off the bench with great effect to add 16 points in support as she drove with controlled aggression at the basket time and time again.

Kendall Currence looks to have put her fitness woes behind her with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Captain Tierra Hodges also netted 14 points to be the fifth Eagles in double-figures adding in her 5 rebound and 4 steal effort as well.

Shoutouts too to Shannon Hatch with 9 points, 5 rebounds, 4 seals and Lauren Saiki with 8 points and 9 assists against their former employers to support the others and showcase that all-round Eagles strength.

Cardiff were shell-shocked by the time the final buzzer went to end their agony and second half torture and signal a superb win for The Eagles. A win that not only took them to an impressive 12 wins and 4 losses record but also one that confirmed Newcastle’s participation in the end of season play-offs.

With four games still to go Chloe Gaynor’s team could yet even clinch a top four seeding and home court advantage in those play-off. A second-place finish which in this form is achievable could see Newcastle cement their best ever season in the top-flight of Women’s professional basketball.

That would be a remarkable achievement but not beyond the realms of possibility as Newcastle are looking more and more like a side that everyone wants to avoid as it comes down to the business end of the season.