SOUTHEND Swifts senior women's team were rewarded for an excellent National Cup first round win with a visit to Division One London Heathrow Acers, who finished third in last season's championship.

Heathrow have an outstanding group of players including 6ft 3in Brazilian international Patricia Da Silva and five European professionals.

Swifts were without skipper Fran Johnson, injured in the league game the previous evening, and lost 85-47.

But the young Southend team gave a good account of themselves and actually opened a 12-6 lead early on.

But giant-killings are few and far between in basketball and Acers were 29-14 ahead at the first quarter and held a 48-24 lead at half-time.

Going into the final period the score was 72-36, but Swifts never gave up the fight and scored the last seven points of the match.

Emma Hart (16) and Francesca Whitby (13) led the visiting scorers and Swifts could be proud of their display as the two other Division Two teams taking on First Division opposition lost by 78 and 73 point margins.

The previous evening the senior team had taken on Enfield Phoenix in the South Division of the National League and lost 67-62 after extra-time.

Christina Gaskin (18), Fran John-son (15) and Emma Hart (13) led the Swifts' scoring, but the star was Enfield's England player Michelle Brown, who contributed 26.

Swifts' younger members had their own event at Chelmsford. The 12 and under mixed team, won both their games.

The under-14 boys, had similar success, as did the under-16 boys.