It also gave the home fans something to shout about at the Mariner Centre, as the women's team went for their fourth win in a row.

The run has seen the Falkirk side move up the National League table and become serious championship contenders.

With a seriously strong squad, Fury are now in a position to become Scotland's premier women's basketball team.

However, a poor initial start saw the Saints take a 6-0 lead until back-to-back baskets from new kid on the block Gillian Baird and sharpshooter Nicola Hargreaves saw the lead quickly reduced to one.

Playing solid team defence and offence, Fury out-scored Saints for the rest of the quarter with point guard Fiona McCusker in excellent form.

Into the second and it was slack defence that allowed back to back threes for the visitors and, once again, it was game on.

While Fury maintained their scoring in the second spell with McCusker, Baird and Mairi Buchan prominent, a 10 point tally by Saints Natalie Chaloner towards the end gave the Paisley side a four-point lead.

Still, Fury were in good shape and, given that no-one has come close to Saints this season bar Fury in their previous match, all was still to play for.

However, a poor third quarter saw only 17-year-old Mairi Buchan effective on the offensive end and Saints continued to score, particularly inside.

At the end of the third Saints had extended their lead to 12 – nothing in basketball terms – and with a full quarter to play, the Clark Eriksson team swept back into the game.

They simply outplayed the league leaders and 28 points is probably the most Saints have ever conceded in a quarter in Scottish basketball.

Fury produced a grandstand finish and, with two minutes remaining, the gap was only two points.

Buchan inside and McCusker on the perimeter were a double act and Saints could not stop them.

But it was a great team effort at both ends of the floor as Fury finished down the stretch.

Two closing baskets by Baird were just not enough to catch Saints as they pulled the lead out to six in the closing seconds.

Head coach John Bunyan told Heraldsport: "I am pleased with the progress the team has made in the past three seasons and feel the group of players can maintain their league challenge and have a real go in the Scottish Cup.

"The ability to play up to three big players in the Fury rotation has also proved to be positive."

Buchan top-scored on 23 points with Fiona McCusker on 18 and Gillian Baird 14.

This Sunday the women are away to Polonia while the senior men hope to get their league campaign back on track against Edinburgh University, at Portobello, on Saturday.