SOLENT Stars' women maintained their perfect league record with a 63-54 home victory over Brixton Topcats in the National Basketball League Division 1.

Stars started poorly and their first-quarter performance was riddled with mistakes.

The exception was Louise Gamman, who built on her excellent display against Rhondda and almost single-handedly fought to match Brixton's energy as Stars finished the quarter 16-7 down.

Maria Tobar got the team rolling in the second quarter and baskets from Sarah Cooper, Carrie Jones and Tobar carried them into the lead for the first time, 27-25. The third quarter saw both teams struggling at the offensive end. For Solent, Zsuzsa Tarnia scored eight points, while Lizzie Cloke and Gamman sank a basket each, but again turnovers cost Solent dear. Brixton scored the first two baskets of the final quarter to edge ahead. Lynne Powell replied and the lead flip-flopped for the next five minutes before Solent pulled six points clear.

Batimba hit back with a three-pointer for Brixton but, despite frantic pressure from the Londoners, Solent controlled the ball in the last minute and profited from the free throw line. "We are winning but sometimes it is really ugly," admitted coach Michael Ball. "However, we had a great positive with Louise Gamman's performance and Zsuzsa, Maria and Lynne played a solid last quarter.

"This weekend will be really interesting. We play a very confident Manchester Mystics team who, in Australian Deanna Smith, have the highest scoring player in the league."

SOLENT SCORERS: Z Tarnai 20, M Tobar 13, L Powell 8, L Gamman 6, S Cooper 5, C Brownsell 3, K Syngellakis 3, L Cloke 3, C Jones 2, C Rourke, E Ball.

For one magical moment Solent Stars' women's second string were celebrating a magnificent last-gasp victory against Reading Rockets.

But their bubble was burst by a timing error from the table officials, who disallowed their last basket, leaving Reading 72-71 winners.

The mix-up condemned the distraught Stars to their third straight defeat, but they are hoping to turn the corner against Cardiff this Saturday at Hamble (2pm).

SOLENT SCORERS: Kath Hield 22, Eszter Ball 15, Carrie Jones 13, Rosie Chase 5, Shelley Steele 5, Jodi Jerram 4, Christie Rourke 3, Gemma Cleal.

Solent Stars' juniors crashed to a resounding 75-49 defeat at the hands of East London Royals - their first loss since the opening game at Reading.

Both sides started out with a half court man-to-man and neither could find any sort of scoring touch as they stuttered to 4-3 with five minutes played.

East London then started to apply pressure with a zone press which Solent found difficult to break through.

The stumbling Stars trailed 20-9 by the end of the quarter and were 39-24 down by half-time.

There was no improvement after the break and Stars know they will have to play with more speed and confidence to clinch the Premier South top spot.

SOLENT SCORERS: Freeland 26, Titcombe 6, Openshaw 5, Sisley 4, Bawden 4, Cooper 2, Glasspool 2.