Newcastle Eagles celebrated International Women’s Day in style with another superb statement win in The Vertu Motors Arena on Saturday night. Having seen off Oaklands Wolves and ending their unbeaten run seven days earlier this was billed as another tough encounter.

The Gladiators already have silverware on their table this season having been the only other side to defeat The Wolves this season and that being in The SLB Trophy Final. So, the battle against two sides in the top echelons of the league was a much-anticipated match-up.

Could the Eagles follow-up their superb victory over the Wolves and show they really are a side to be feared and recognised in The SLB this season. Or would the Gladiators take a third success against Newcastle having already beaten them twice up in Scotland, once in the Trophy and once in the league?

Another big crowd inside the Vertu Motors Arena got their answer after 40 minutes of high-quality top-flight basketball. And that answer was a very big yes in the favour of an Eagles side who now have won five of their last six league games and taken their record to an impressive 9 wins 3 losses status.

Head Coach Chloe Gaynor is making a big impact in her rookie coaching campaign at this level and her players are responding in kind with terrific performances showing their talent, commitment and togetherness as they seem to improve with every game.

Once again although suited up, Eagles had to play without Kendall Currence but found the players to cover the American’s absence. The week previous it had been Sarah Birkett this week it was Abby Lowe who had 19 points and 6 rebounds in an X-Factor display that helped her side enormously.

Not that she was alone. Indeed, all the Eagles starters all netted double-figure contributions. Tierra Hodges leading the way with 20 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. Shannon Hatch continued her good recent scoring form with 15 points and 5 rebounds and was deadly from 3-point range.

Jada Guinn was kept relatively quiet scoring wise by the high standards she’s set but contributed across the board with 13 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals with point guard Lauren Saiki adding a superb double-double of 10 points and 10 assists with 6 steals thrown in for good measure.

The Eagles starters scored all but 4 of their total points. Birkett and Zoe Willis from the bench both netting a pair of free-throws but also contributing to the Eagles excellent defensive display. That was undoubtedly where Newcastle won this game restricting Gladiators to on 66 points on the night.

That defence allowed great offensive transition and good looks at the basket that Newcastle knocked down time and time again shrugging off the supposed size and strength difference that Caledonia had in their favour to show there’s different ways to win a basketball game.

It was no surprise to anyone present that the first quarter was tight and there was very little to separate the two sides. Hatch who had one triple in the opening ten minutes nailed another at the end to edge the period 18 to 17.

It was the prelude to an astonishing run from the Eagles as they carried that moment into the second period and ripped off the first 11 points without reply to establish a lead they would never relinquish. Hodges who was held scoreless in the first contributing 10 personal in the second.

But more importantly Newcastle only allowed Caledonia to score 9 points in the second quarter in a magnificent defensive display that allowed them to move 15-points clear of their much-vaunted opponents and by the half-time buzzer they led 41 points to 26.

Most sides with such a cushion may have relaxed and look to contain for the rest of the game. But Caledonia with Kirsty Brown dominating inside and Mathilde Domenger shooting well didn’t give Newcastle that opportunity.

A strong Gladiators comeback to start the third period saw them cut the gap to only 6 points on a couple of occasions but Eagles weathered the Gladiators charge, re-grouped and finished the third with an excellent 11 points to 4 run to take a 65 – 51 advantage into the final ten minutes.

Again, the question was could Caledonia comeback. Not against this high-flying Eagles side they couldn’t as Newcastle netted the first four of the final period to take their biggest lead of the night at 18-points.

Caledonia did stand firm though and once again threatened to comeback halving the deficit and reducing the gap to single figures but Newcastle were in no mood to let them back in. As time ticked down they mounted one last run scoring the last six points of the game to clinch an impressive and well-deserved victory.

What was also important was the margin of the victory as well. After losing up in Scotland by eight points in the first league meeting between the two sides, the Eagles not only levelled the series between the two sides but also took the head-to-head on points difference.

That could be crucial for the play-offs when the final places are decided at the end of the regular season but in truth the way Newcastle are playing right now they’re eyeing up a top-four finish which is now well within their grasp.