An eighth successive win saw Bradford Dragons Women reach the Leeds & District League Knockout Cup semi-finals as they earned a 61-47 success at Harrogate Raiders.

The Dragons had previously hosted Harrogate in the league and were comfortable 65-36 winners but had to cope without several players due to injury, illness or unavailability this time.

Aleksandra Mazjakina opened the scoring as Bradford took an early five-point lead and although the hosts hit back to move 7-5 up, the tide turned again and the Dragons landed five of seven free throws to ease 20-16 up at the end of the first quarter.

The Raiders again responded well but Alicja Dejewska helped the Dragons through a scoring drought by hitting two shots and securing rebound after rebound.

Sammy Drake, Rachel Tunnacliffe, Mazjakina and Dejewska then spearheaded a 14-point charge to finish the half 38-25 in Bradford’s favour.

Mazjakina ran into foul trouble during the third quarter and had to be benched but her colleagues dug in to retain a 48-39 lead by the next interval.

The Raiders reduced the deficit to five points but finally ran out of steam and Bradford fired nine unanswered points to seal the victory.

Mazjakina topped the scoring with 17 points, backed up by Dejewska (13) and Tunnacliffe (12), as the Dragons reached the last four to add to a similar achievement in the league’s Handicap Cup.

Bradford’s next game is on Saturday against Huddersfield Heat in the England Basketball Women’s National Founders Cup north pool on Saturday.