THE Essex Blades women’s basketball team returned to winning ways as they warmed up for the National Cup final with a pair of victories.

They tightened their grip on top spot in National League division one after an impressive win on the road against Lancashire.

Cat Lutz was once again the catalyst for the Blades as she notched 25 points, with Jasmine Ogunjimi adding 16 more.

When Lancashire did try to mount a fightback, the visitors consistently found an answer.

Taking any fightback and using it as an opportunity to instead increase their own lead, Essex took the third period by 11 and then the fourth by ten to put the finishing touches on a comfortable 81-53 victory.

The first home game of 2018 saw another impressive Blades victory, this time over Reading Rockets.

An explosive opening quarter led by former Rockets star Lutz saw a dominant 31-9 lead established, although a 53-point second quarter edged by the opposition signalled a Reading fightback.

However, a solid second-half performance from the Blades saw them finish 79-63 victors.

Lutz was again top scorer with 30 points, with Charleene Tom and Karla Powlesland adding a combined 20 points in the paint.

Essex Blades face Ipswich this weekend in the Basketball England National Cup final at the University of East London Sports Dock.

The Blades, one of the University of Essex performance teams, have taken the league and cup by storm this year, winning 19 games in all competitions.

Ahead of the match, head coach Mark Lloyd was was full of praise for basketball in the area and said: "We're obviously delighted to be appearing in our second National Cup final in our short three-year history in the National League.

"It really is poised to be a truly memorable final and advert for women's basketball in the East of England.

"Ipswich have shown they are a division one team playing in division two this season in the results they have put together on route to the final itself.

"They are not the underdogs by any means and the result against Bristol in the semi-final showed real character from their talented young players.

"We obviously know each other well, being only half an hour away from each other geographically.

"As I say, I hope the East of England derby is a great spectacle for the women's game in this country.”

The Essex Blades basketball programme is grateful to sponsors SportsafeUK and D Salmon Cars.