Team Northumbria are up to third spot in women's Division One after two big away victories over the weekend.

 

Coach Deirdre Hayes' side won 94-47 at Birmingham A's on Saturday before returning from London Mets with an 81-40 victory the following day.

 

The north east side roared out of the blocks against the A's, taking an 11-2 lead after four minutes. Birmingham got back into the game with a fine display of three point shooting cutting the visitors lead to 26-18 at the first break.

 

In the second quarter Morissa Benberry scored off a free throw for A's before Northumbria's top scorer Ta'Yani Clark was successful on a drive. Zoe Vickers followed with a put-back off of an offensive rebound. The rest of the quarter was followed with Northumbria hitting on average of two baskets to each of Birmingham's one and at the half they had increased their lead to 54-29. 

 

Northumbria opened the second half with a 15-0 run to end the game as a contest and they held the hosts to just six points in the third period as Northumbria went into the final break 74-35 ahead. A 20-12 fourth period, with Sarah Bennett finishing off the scoring for Northumbria, wrapped up the win.

 

Clark led the Northumbria scoring with 20 points, with Vickers adding 17 and Calder 15. Burchill was the only A's player in double figures with ten points.

 

The following day in London, Clark opened the scoring for the visitors with a lay up off the jump ball and Northumbria had four different people score as they established a 9-0 lead in the first minute. Northumbria continued the pressure and after the first quarter were in control with a 27-8 lead.   

 

The second quarter was not as high-scoring, but Northumbria were able to add to their lead and were up 39-14 at the half and for the second day running they again held their opponent to only six points scored in the quarter. 

 

Vickers opened the third with a three pointer as London Met went to a zone defence, but it did not prevent the visitors leading 53-24 at the final break.

 

By the fourth quarter Northumbria once again answered every score by the home side with two baskets, as they wrapped up their seventh league win of the campaign.

 

Hayes was delighted with the results:

 

"I'm very happy not only with the two victories but the way we have been playing," she said.

 

"It is always difficult to get victories on the road and we have had two double headers within the last two weeks and came away with four wins. 

 

"We are also playing better as a team; this season has been a major adjustment for us and we are becoming more well-rounded and better defensively. 

 

"Obviously we still have a long way to go and are well aware that Birmingham and London Mets have had their struggles, but we recorded two victories and are trying to keep ourselves toward the top of the table and stay away from the chasing pack. 

 

"Next weekend will definitely be a test against Sheffield, but we are playing more as a team and not relying on just one or two people as in the past we have had some outstanding scorers. 

 

"This weekend we had four players in double figures the first day with another three scoring eight points and against London Met we had six. That is not only pleasing but is better for us as a team. Now we have to maintain it and continue to improve."

 

Vickers led the scoring with 16 points, with Clark hitting 14 and Calder 13. Roberta Sbrocco led Mets with 10.