After jetting into Newcastle just four weeks ago, Tierra Hodges has well and truly hit the ground running as she has secured Molten Player of the Month honours for December.

The 5’9” American out of Furman University came to the north-east after an excellent rookie campaign in Finland, and has proved invaluable for the Serios Group Newcastle Eagles in the last four weeks with averages of 24 points and over nine rebounds per game in her first month on British shores.

A double-double of 30 points and 10 rebounds in her opening outing for the Eagles against local rivals Durham Palatinates was an instant signal of Hodges’ quality, and in the two games since then she’s shown no signs of slowing down.

With the Eagles not having played since December 16, Head Coach Matt Newby will be hoping his star player will have maintained her form over the Christmas break as Newcastle have their Trophy First Round clash against Nottingham Wildcats to contend with tonight (Saturday).

A win in that game will see the Eagles face Cardiff Met Archers or Manchester Giants in the quarter-finals, with either the Essex Rebels or Leicester Riders standing in their way of the Final beyond that should Newcastle get past the next two rounds.

Tickets for the British Basketball League Trophy Final are available now via the Ticket Factory, and tickets to Eagles home games can be purchased via the club website.