Solent Stars' women tipped off the new basketball season with two thumping victories.

Having started their National League campaign with a 116-42 humbling of Reading, they travelled to Cardiff on Saturday and came away with a solid 110-38 success over UWIC Stealers in their second SW regional game.

Solent were at a definite advantage against a UWIC side missing three of their most experienced players and a burst of defensive intensity from Catherine Brownsell helped carry them to a 23-7 lead.

That was extended to 48-19 at the interval thanks to three-pointers from Lynne Powell and scores from Sarah Cooper and Zsuzsa Tarnai.

After the break, Solent started to move the ball more quickly leading to several transition opportunities. Lizzy Cloke, in particular, took advantage, hitting eight from eight from the floor and Katarina Syngellakis started to use her body more effectively with powerful moves to the hoop.

Solent had had an easy start to the season against Reading, but much credit should go to the young, inexperienced Berkshire newcomers who, under the positive guidance of Dave Aldred, never once dropped their heads.

This weekend Stars will be gunning for their third straight win at home to Exeter.

Solent scorers (v UWIC): Tarnai 26, Cloke 22, Cooper 21, Syngellakis 12, Powell 11, Brownsell 10, Jones 8; (v Reading): Cooper 23, Tarnai 20, Syngellakis 18, Jones 17, Brownsell 17, Cloke 8, Powell 7, Rourke 4, Hield 2.