Double victory puts North back on track.

TWO games and two wins for an in-form Team Northumbria put an end to fears the club's barren run would continue.

A frantic 24 hours saw TN's hoops squad clinch a 71-64 win at Plymouth Marjons and an 82-51 victory at the University of Birmingham.

The star of Saturday's game was undoubtedly captain Chris Pearce, who scored an impressive 35 points and had nine rebounds and four assists in a narrow victory over Plymouth.

He said: "I felt really good at the start of the game, hitting my first few shots.

"The guards played really well, gifting me many of my points, so credit to them."

It was a close game throughout, but TN only trailed twice in the whole match.

In what is becoming a trademark fast start, Greg Modzelewski's side opened up an early advantage, leading 18-11 after the first quarter.

Pearce added: "We started with a massive statement of intent, playing our full-court pressure defence from the off.

"We are the fittest team in the league and train harder than most teams in this country. It showed."

Plymouth fought back in tight second and third quarters, led by their top scorer Saul Rodgers who netted 19 points, and meant TN's lead was only five going in to the fourth quarter.

Both sides went all out attack down the stretch and it was the away side who came out on top, outscoring the home team 25-23 in the final quarter.

TN finished the game shooting 43% from the field and, after scoring 24 points from beyond the arc, claimed a narrow victory. In the second away game of the weekend, Modzelewski's men were once quick out of the blocks as they stormed to a 22-8 lead after the first quarter.

Pearce again led the attack with 20 points, taking his weekend points tally to 55.

After a strong second quarter for Birmingham, TN found their defensive steel and only conceded an average of 15 points per quarter after the half.

Birmingham was led by 19 points from Barr, that tally was matched on Northumbria's side with Ian Berry also picking up 19.

Pearce praised TN's guards when he added: "When our guards are running the show like they have done this weekend, it makes everyone's job so much easier.

"It was a great weekend for us and it came just at the right time. We can now go into this weekend's break from fixtures with confidence."

After two morale-sapping defeats in the space of 24 hours, TN coach Modzelewski was delighted with two impressive victories and Pearce heads into the festive period riding high on the back of his 55-point haul.

HEAD coach Deirdre Hayes hailed her Team Northumbria roster's best display of the season against Leeds Carnegie - but could not hide her disappointment at a last-gasp 81-75 defeat to the Yorkshire franchise.

POINTS: Ta'Yani Clark The TN playcaller had preached consistency in the wake of her side's late, late show against Barking Abbey the previous week.

The home court side was consistent for three quarters against Leeds, only to lose its way in the dying stages.

Hayes, missing centre Fiona Tozer and Emma Ross through injury, said: "It was our best performance of the season but I am really disappointed."

Hayes' aim was to win without relying on a last-minute push - and for three periods the plan was working.

However, a series of quickfire attacks from Leeds down the stretch gave the visitors the edge in the last four minutes - the first time Carnegie had led all game.

Another great performance from Ta'yani Clark put TN in with a fighting chance - the US star scoring 22 points and bagging 17 rebounds following on from her double double against Barking.

Also scoring points for fun was England under-18 star Ruth Davison, who poured in 19 points.

TN now have three wins from five games and remain in the race for a topfour finish in the EBL's top flight.

CAPTION(S):

POINTS: Ta'Yani Clark