Heartbreaking is a big word and one that shouldn’t be used lightly. However, losing a game when you are 5 points up with only 79 seconds to play is certainly a situation that the wording could be applied too.

The Eagles just coming up short in their attempt to get their SLB Championship season off to a winning start as they went down to Leicester Riders at The Vertu Motors Arena in a thrilling game of top-flight women’s basketball.

Head Coach Matt Newby, his staff and players will no doubt sit down and reflect on a performance that offered so much promise, potential and positives but ultimately ended in a loss which was disappointing. Perhaps they’ll feel it was a game that got away from them in the end.

The Eagles definitely had the chance to get their League campaign off to a flying start and send out a message across the competition that they are a legit threat this season. Perhaps even in defeat they still did as for long periods they looked like recording what would have been an excellent win.

That they didn’t is perhaps for those with more insight and knowledge to dissect why. But what is for sure that this Newcastle side is one that is going to play a fast paced exciting brand of basketball that is going to be well worth watching this season.

Leicester of course have to be given great credit for not only mounting that late comeback but carrying it on into overtime to establish a lead that Eagles could not quite pull back. Once again Coach Ben Stanly has put together a very competitive Riders roster that will trouble the best.

They are organised, well-drilled and certainly have a dogged determination about them. They also have a very good physical inside presence that perhaps in the end just tipped the scales in their favour on the night.

Experience of being in winning situations is a crucial element in any sport but in basketball it is vital. Those seconds when a game can be turned on its head and change its dynamics is sometimes what makes the difference between a good season and an average one.

The Newcastle players were certainly disappointed at the final buzzer but when they reflect on their 45 minutes of energised excellent effort they should be able to see that they have a lot of talent and ability to take them forward for better days.

In the course of the game there was absolutely nothing really between the sides for the first forty minutes. Both teams making little runs throughout regulation and both finding a way to come back and not let the other dominate.

Eagles were massively outrebounded in the game by 54 to 35 but defensively they forced Riders into 25 turnovers on the night and scored off a lot of them. Newcastle may feel they could have done better with their shooting percentage but in a heated contested environment that would be harsh.

There will be lots of moments when both sides would have thought they could have done better and perhaps moments when they thought they had the game won. Certainly, when Chloe Gaynor nailed a triple for the home side to put them up 69 – 64 with 1:19 to go it looked like and Eagles win.

That capped a 9 – 0 burst from Newcastle that seemed to have turned the game around in their favour. Riders called a time-out and sat down to discuss how to try and turn a deficit around. They managed to come up with the exact plan to do so.

The excellent Julia Chandler grabbed an offensive rebound and put back to cut the gap and then ice in her veins Katie Januszsewska hit a dagger triple from the corner with 50 seconds to tie the game and take it to overtime.

Kaia Harrison and Januszewska took the run to 12 points with the first seven of overtime and held Matt Newby’s charges scoreless to just show perhaps that experience and know-how when it most crucially mattered.

Tierra Hodges once again was the Eagles leader and had a great night and in particular a fantastic second half when she really pushed her side on. Another double-double of 24 points and 11 rebounds recorded.

Point guard Lauren Saiki was supremely influential throughout the contest as well for Newcastle. 12 points and 12 assists also giving her an impressive double double as she tried to guide her side over the line. Jada Guinn with 12 points and Shannon Hatch with 10 also supporting well.

But in the end it was all to no avail as Leicester rode out of The Arena with the first Championship points of the season perhaps thinking that they had got away with one whilst Newcastle were left to reflect on what might have been.