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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.
Sports
Men’s T&F Opens Season at Diplomat Open
Lancaster, PA (December 6, 2025) – The DeSales University men’s track & field team opened the 2025-26 indoor T&F season competing at the Diplomat Open at Franklin & Marshall College on Friday.
The Bulldogs posted 10 MAC qualfying times/marks in the meet.
Among the qualifying times were junior Bryce Guthier taking second in the 400-meters with a time of 52.08. It is the fifth fastest time in indoor history. Senior Davis Trump also qualified in the 5K with a time of 16:20.32.
In the field events, DSU posted eight qualfying marks. Junior Weston Simak qualified for the MAC Championships in both the long jump (6.52m) and triple jump (13.72m). His triple jump mark was the second best in team history. First-year Luke Heimann also qualfied in the triple jump (11.86m).
Junior Jonathan Castronovo took home first place in the long jump with a mark of 6.58m, the second best long jump in team history.
First-year John Amoretti qualified in the shot put (12.33m), seniors Jonathan Eudja and Giovanni Wellington qualified in the weight throw with marks of 14.85m and 14.23m. First-year Ryan Rodriguez also quallified in the weight throw (11.89m).
The Bulldogs won’t return to action till the New Year at the Blue and Grey Invitational on Jan. 17th.
Sports
Women’s Track & Field Turns in Multiple High Marks to Begin Season at Cornell
RESULTS
ITHACA, N.Y. –
The Ithaca College women’s track & field team opened its 2025-26 season over the weekend as the Bombers made the short trip across town to compete in the Greg Page Relays hosted by Cornell University on December 5-6.
Lola Gitlin posted a time of 10:25.57 in the 3000-meter run to finish third overall.
Rachel Larson was a fourth place finisher with a time of 8.58 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles. That time is currently No. 1 in Division III after the opening weekend of the season.
Aynisha McQuillar took fifth in the 200-meter dash in a time of 26.61 seconds. McQuillar also ran in the 60-meter dash and posted the 11th fastest time in DIII during the prelim with a performance of 7.78 seconds.
Lyla Powers was fifth in the 500-meter dash with a time of 1:21.75.
Lily Seyfert claimed fifth in the shot put with a heave of 12.78 meters, which is currently ninth in the nation.
Bree Boyle and Erin Eastwood each cleared 3.54 meters in the pole vault, which is tied for 11th on the Division III performance list.
Alexis Brown turned in a leap of 11.02 meters in the triple jump for the 17th best mark in the country.
Ithaca is off for the remainder of 2025 and will return to Cornell on January 10 for the Southern Tier Invitational.
Sports
Men’s Track & Field Opens Indoor Season at Cornell Greg Page Relays
RESULTS
ITHACA, N.Y. –
The Ithaca College men’s track & field team opened its 2025-26 season over the weekend as the Bombers made the short trip across town to compete in the Greg Page Relays hosted by Cornell University on December 5-6.
Anik Vossschulte claimed third in the 200-meter dash in a time of 23.32 seconds, while Jacob Antilety was seventh at 23.71 seconds.
Matt Lokshin posted a time of 8.65 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles to place third in the event. Aidan Irwin took fourth in the high jump with a mark of 1.70 meters.
Quinten Lewis posted a mark of 13.73 meters in the triple jump to place fourth and Sebastien-Oliver Lacrete was sixth at 12.68 meters, while Evan Cherry secured fifth in the long jump with a leap of 6.84 meters.
IC’s 4×400-meter relay team of Damian Simmonds, Griffin Lupes, Noah McKibben and George Nilson placed sixth in 3:34.49.
Luke Ellor finished sixth in the shot put with a mark of 14.40 meters.
Three Bombers finished within the top eight in the 500-meter dash as Brad Kellogg was sixth in 1:09.73, Peter Tysiak followed in seventh with 1:10.74 and Matthew DeJulio was next at 1:11.59.
Kaiden Chandler and Luke Ferrer posted times of 4:41.29 and 4:53.44 in the mile to finish in seventh and eighth.
Raf Campanile was seventh in the pole vault with a clearance of 4.25 meters.
Ithaca is off for the remainder of 2025 and will return to Cornell on January 10 for the Southern Tier Invitational.
Sports
Women’s track and field athletes win three events at Utica Holiday Classic
UTICA, N.Y. – The Hamilton College Continentals competed against 13 teams at the non-team scoring 2025 Utica University Track & Field Holiday Classic inside the Todd & Jenn Hutton Sports and Recreation Center on Saturday, Dec. 6.
The meet was the first of the 2025-26 season for the Hamilton women, who will be back at Utica for the Pioneers’ Winter Opener on Friday, Jan. 16 after taking a break for finals and the winter holiday.
The Continentals qualified for the 2026 All-Atlantic Region Track & Field Conference Indoor Championships in four different events and finished first in three events.
Emily Pogozelski ’26 won the 3,000-meter run by over 20 seconds with a regional-qualifying time of 10:27.93. Mackenzie Loudon ’29, who was competing in her first collegiate meet, took first place and qualified for regionals in the triple jump.
Loudon was also part of Hamilton’s winning 4×200-meter relay with Tatiana McCray ’28, Ava Chiappinelli ’29 and Marley Meyers ’28. Their performance was more than five seconds faster than the regional-qualifying time.
McCray ran a regional-qualifying 7.96 seconds and finished in second place in the 60-meter dash final. Chiappinelli also qualified for regionals in her first collegiate meet and finished right behind McCray with a time of 7.99 seconds.
TOP PERFORMANCES
300-Meter Dash (17 Runners)
4. Marley Meyers ’28, 43.08
7. Hannah Turner ’26, 43.91
60-Meter Dash (35 Runners)
2. Tatiana McCray ’28, 7.96 (PR, AARTFC)
3. Ava Chiappinelli ’29, 7.99 (AARTFC)
600-Meter Dash (16 Runners)
5. Aisha Kandji ’29, 1:47.31
4×200 Meter Relay (9 Teams)
1. McCray ’28, Mackenzie Loudon ’29, Chiappinelli ’29, Meyers ’28 (1:46.42, AARTFC)
3000-Meter Run (19 Runners)
1. Emily Pogozelski ’26, 10:27.93 (PR, AARTFC)
Triple Jump (15 Athletes)
1. Loudon, 11.29 meters (37 feet, 0.5 inches; AARTFC)
Sports
Volleyball Advances to Program’s First Sweet Sixteen, Sweeps Florida Saturday
DALLAS (SMU) – For the first time in program history, SMU volleyball is headed to the Sweet Sixteen after sweeping Florida (16-12) in the Round of 32 on Saturday with set scores of 25-11, 25-21, 26-24.
With the win, SMU won its 27th match of the season, tying the program record for single-season wins. It also gave coach Sam Erger her 100th victory at SMU and in her Division I head coaching career.
Averi Carlson dished out 38 assists, the most in a three-setter for the senior setter this season. Carlson led the Mustangs to a .370 hitting percentage in the win. Kennedi Rogers went for 14 kills, hitting .440, with four digs and three blocks. Malaya Jones closely trailed Rogers with 13 kills, eight digs and seven blocks, tying her career high.
SMU out-blocked the Gators 15-4, spearheaded by a career-high nine blocks from freshman Maggie Croft. The Mustangs’ blocking efforts helped hold the Gators to a .156 hitting percentage for the match.
MATCH NOTES
- With 13 kills against Florida, Jones (503) is now the second player in SMU Volleyball history to reach 500 kills in a season. She joins Rachel Giubilato, who notched 568 kills in 2006.
- Averi Carlson (1,341) moved to third in the rally scoring era and sixth all-time for single-season assists at SMU.
- Jones reached the double-digit kill mark for the 26th time this season and for the ninth straight match.
- Rogers recorded double-digit kills for the sixth time this season.
- It marked Schilling’s 22nd time in double-figures this season and her fifth straight.
- With six blocks against the Gators, Anyanwu draws within 14 of breaking the program record for most blocks in a season. (188 by Janelle Giordano in 2015)
- SMU had double-digit blocks (15) for the 17th time this season and for the second straight match.
- SMU has won 20 of its last 21 matches and its 12th straight.
- The Mustangs end the 2025 season with 15 wins at Moody Coliseum, tying the program record for most in a season.
- The win marks the Mustangs’ 15th sweep, 11th at home this season.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
SMU controlled the first set from start to finish in all phases of the game. SMU hit .483 with no errors on 29 swings in the first, while holding Florida to a .000 hitting percentage. Rogers put in five kills to lead the Mustangs, who got point production from six different players to help propel them to a 25-11 set one victory. SMU commanded the net with a 5-0 advantage in blocks.
Down four (16-12) in the second frame, SMU responded with five straight points on a run that included two aces from Madison Scheer. After trading points, SMU went on a 4-0 run to pull away in the frame. The Mustangs went on to win the frame 25-21.
Tied 20-20 entering the red zone of the third set, SMU got the first two points on an ace from Carlson and a block from the freshman tandem of Rogers and Croft. Despite a 3-1 run by Florida that put the Gators at set point first, the Mustangs responded with three straight to close the match, ending the frame with their sixth block of the set to win 26-24.
SMU LEADERS:
SMU Kills Leader: Kennedi Rogers (14)
SMU Assists Leader: Averi Carlson (38)
SMU Digs Leader: Jordyn Schilling (11)
SMU Blocks Leader: Maggie Croft (9)
SMU Ace Leader: Madison Scheer (2)
SMU Points Leader: Malaya Jones (17.5)
Up Next: SMU will get a rematch with No. 3 seed Purdue in the NCAA Regional Semifinal on Thursday evening in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Sports
Trans volleyball player Blaire Fleming hits back at claim about female teammate’s eating disorder
Transgender college volleyball player Blaire Fleming has hit back at claims that she triggered her teammate’s eating disorder due to emotional distress — and said that she doesn’t “feel bad for her.”
Fleming, 23, was at the center of a scandal last year involving Brooke Slusser, who filed multiple lawsuits against her San Jose State University (SJSU) teammate after discovering that she was transgender.
Slusser alleged that the panic and stress from that period of her life led her to develop an eating disorder, leading to anorexia so severe that her menstrual cycle stopped for nine months.
The pair had previously shared hotel rooms and changing spaces for a whole season in 2023 before Slusser said she found out that Fleming, who is biologically male but reportedly started medically transitioning at 14, was trans.
“From the stress and how anxious I was every single day, I just wasn’t eating really at all,” Slusser told Fox News Digital last week.
“I went from around 160 to 128 [lbs] in that one semester. It definitely isn’t healthy for someone of my size to be that weight, and I ended up losing my menstrual cycle for nine months. So it was definitely severe,” she said.
Slusser later dropped her classes in the final semester this past spring, citing constant in-person harassment by students who opposed her stance.
Fleming has since responded, claiming that Slusser’s eating disorder dated back for as long as she knew her, prior to her learning that she was trans.
“She’s been anorexic and struggled with food since I’ve known her aka since 2023. She literally would weigh herself 2-3x a day and keep track of it on her whiteboard in her room,” Fleming told Fox News Digital on Sunday.
“So I really don’t care or feel bad for her. And she didn’t drop her classes, she failed out, hope that helps!” Fleming said.
Slusser has now come back and disputed Fleming’s allegations.
“These statements are just not true. I have always lived a very healthy lifestyle. Before these events took place I was very disciplined in fueling myself for athletics and [kept] track to make sure I was where I need to be to be the best athlete,” Slusser told Fox News Digital.
“It wasn’t until all the craziness started that my healthy lifestyle turned very unhealthy into not eating the amount I should,” Slusser said.
“As for school, I decided to stay home after fall 2024 to better myself and heal. So no, I did not return to San Jose and enroll myself in more courses at an institution that didn’t have my best interest,” she added.
Slusser alleged that she was never told Fleming’s birth sex and said the two regularly shared hotel rooms on away trips, according to her lawsuits filed against the NCAA and Mountain West Conference.
Fleming allegedly requested to be roomed with Slusser, a request she said was granted by team leadership, according to lawsuits.
Slusser said that the 6ft1 Fleming confessed to being transgender during a conversation over ice cream with another teammate in April 2024.
In September 2024, Slusser joined swimmer Riley Gaines’ lawsuit against the NCAA.
At the same time, SJSU’s volleyball team saw a series of forfeits by opposing teams, with police protection regularly assigned.
The US Department of Education is currently investigating SJSU for potential Title IX violations.
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