THE women’s team are celebrating after winning the second piece of basketball silverware for the University of Worcester in two weeks.

They beat the University of Bedfordshire in the British Universities and Colleges Sports (BUCS) Cup final.

In front of a large student crowd, the home side were able to take a 58-39 victory which followed the men’s retention of the BUCS championship in Sheffield recently.

The women’s team comprised of students representing a variety of different courses with some experiencing their first season of competitive basketball.

Mick Donovan, head of the institute of sport and exercise science at the Henwick Road university, said: “Although the visitors were heavily favoured, based on previous results, the victory and, more importantly, the manner in which the game was played was a testament to the character of our student body.

“It was also evidence of the ability of the students to rally behind a group of hard-working individuals who have become a team.”

The university runs a highly-acclaimed Learning Through Sport programme which helps local schoolchildren with their English and maths.

It also hosts British Basketball League team Worcester Wolves and the academy is established as one of the finest university basketball programmes in Europe.

The developments with a programme at Worcester Sixth Form College and the vibrant under 14s Wolves initiative are also ensuring the next generation of players have a great chance of progressing.

Meanwhile, a duo from the women’s team represented England in the Four Nations university basketball tournament.

Crystal Sterling and Gemma Salmon, both 21, were selected after trials in Nottingham to play in Durham.

Sterling, of Northampton, is completing her final year of a sports studies degree at the university and represented England last year.

It was the first time Salmon, of Birmingham, who is in the first year of a HND in sports studies, had represented her country.

The girls’ club team are South Birmingham Bears.