FIBA Basketball
AUS - WNBL Round 11 preview
SYDNEY (WNBL) - Townsville (6-8) has defeated Perth (2-13) twice already this season with a 79-70 win in Queensland in Round 2 and a convincing 74-50 win in Perth in Round 4. Flagged as a force to be reckoned with at the start of the season
Townsville v Perth: SeaFM Stadium, Friday 8pm
SYDNEY (WNBL) - Townsville (6-8) has defeated Perth (2-13) twice already this season with a 79-70 win in Queensland in Round 2 and a convincing 74-50 win in Perth in Round 4.
Flagged as a force to be reckoned with at the start of the season, Townsville now sit three wins outside the top four and nothing but a W will be acceptable for this game.
Both teams rely heavily on individual players to post competitive scores – Townsville on Renae Camino (18.2ppg) and Rohanee Cox (16.7ppg) while Perth on Carly Wilson (18.6ppg) – and this game will most probably be no different.
Apart from the AIS, these two teams concede the most points per game in the league, so the team that can turn in a consistent defensive performance will go a long way towards claming the win.
Rebounding will also play a major part in this game, with Townsville the second best rebounding team in the league at 44 per game and Perth the equal worst with 37 per game.
This will be Claudia Brassard's 100th game for Townsville. Carly Wilson needs just 6 points for 2000 WNBL points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Townsville 74 def Perth 50 in Perth (Round 4).
Dandenong v Bulleen: Dandenong Basketball Stadium, Friday 8pm (Local derby)
ABC Game of the Week: Broadcast LIVE on ABC2 from 8pm AEDT Friday, replayed on regular ABC-TV at 4pm on Saturday and again on ABC2 at 12:30pm on Sunday.
The previous two games in the Victorian derby that make up the Michele Timms Cup have ended in a home win for each side, meaning the winner of this game will hold the 2006Cup aloft.
At 7-and-8, this is a do-or-die match for the Rangers, who must win to stay in touch with the top fou, while Bulleen (9-5) will be pushing for a home final.
World champion defencejobs Opal Hollie Grima has been in brilliant form of late, winning her third Nivea Player of the Week last round while leading the league in total rebounds per game with 11.1, She also ranks second in points per game with 19.3, but the likes of Sharin Milner, Karen Ashby and Desiree Glaubitz have consistently provided the support Grima has needed.
Despite Dandenong sitting last in the league for total rebounds per game with 37, statistically there isn't much between the two sides.
Dandenong coach Gary Fox has said that every game from here on in is a final for the Rangers, while Bulleen have had a solid preparation and come into the game on a 3-game winning streak.
Sharin Milner needs 2 assists to reach 500 with Bulleen.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Bulleen 73 def Dandenong 65 in Bulleen (Round 10).
Canberra v Adelaide: AIS Arena, Saturday 7:30pm
Canberra (9-4) had a horror weekend last round, dropping two games on their Victorian road trip, while it has been smooth sailing for an Adelaide (10-2) side that has beaten every team in the competition.
Adelaide has been the best rebounding team in the league this season but Canberra possesses a trio of hard working talls in Abby Bishop, Tracey Beatty and Donna Loffhagen, making it a tough night under the glass for all involved.
Canberra seem to be playing at a slower place of late, while Adelaide are full of spirit and looking like the strongest team in the competition.
Five Lightning players – Erin Phillips, Tracey Gahan, Jess Foley, Sam Woosnam and Kristen Rasmussen - average in double figures in points per game and have taken over 50 rebounds each this season.
Canberra rely heavily on Jess Bibby (16.8ppg) for points so coach Carrie Graf will need an increased offensive output from her other players.
Adelaide is one of the only teams that holds a head-to-head advantage over Canberra, leading 30-11 in all games played.
WNBA import Kristen Rasmussen resumed light training during the week, but will not take the court in this game.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Adelaide 81 def Canberra 75 in Adelaide (Round 8).
Sydney Uni v Perth: Sydney Uni Sports & Aquatic Centre, Saturday 7pm
The Flames are coming off a gritty come-from-behind victory over Townsville, 75-72, while Perth (2-13) registered their second win of the season against the AIS on Saturday night.
This game looms as another tough contest for the Lynx with Sydney Uni (10-3) leading the league in points per game (83), field goal shooting percentage (46%), 3-point shooting percentage (37%) and assists (18).
Despite their limited victories, Crista Hays (10.1ppg), Melissa Marsh (8.0ppg) and Tall Fern Angela Marino (7.0ppg) have been playing well of late and have provided star recruit Carly Wilson (18.6ppg) with some much needed support.
But with the attacking potency and aggressive approach of the Flames - they have seven players that average over 9 points per game - Perth will need better than average games from their support players if they are to be competitive.
Their task was made tougher when 97-gamer Narelle Henry retired from the club after the two teams met in Round 9.
Head-to-head, Sydney Uni holds a commanding 38-6 overall lead.
This will be Sydney Uni forward Melissa Smith's 50th WNBL game.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Sydney Uni 97 def Perth 71 in Perth (Round 9).
AIS v Adelaide: AIS Training Hall, Sunday 12pm
The AIS was competitive when it met Adelaide last round, or more than the 25-point margin suggested anyway.
Adelaide were able to use their full contingent of players and Coach Chris Lucas will be looking to do the same this week, while for the AIS, Cayla Francis (12.0ppg) and Marianna Tolo (8.0ppg) have continued their recent good form and will prove a handful for the experienced Lightning.
The best chance the students have is to stay close to the Lightning in the early minutes of the game and go forward from there.
To the AIS's players' credit, they lead the league in blocked shots, but inexperience on the big stage has seen them commit the most turnovers per game of any team – and the most fouls.
Despite Kristen Rasmussen being out with an ankle injury, Adelaide still possesses an All-Star caliber starting five of Erin Phillips, Jess Foley, Tracey Gahan, Sam Woosnam and Lauren King, and that class should see them returning to South Australia with a firm grip on the top spot of the ladder.
The AIS have not beaten Adelaide since December 2003.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Adelaide 72 def AIS 47 in Adelaide (Round 10).
Basketball Australia
SYDNEY (WNBL) - Townsville (6-8) has defeated Perth (2-13) twice already this season with a 79-70 win in Queensland in Round 2 and a convincing 74-50 win in Perth in Round 4.
Flagged as a force to be reckoned with at the start of the season, Townsville now sit three wins outside the top four and nothing but a W will be acceptable for this game.
Both teams rely heavily on individual players to post competitive scores – Townsville on Renae Camino (18.2ppg) and Rohanee Cox (16.7ppg) while Perth on Carly Wilson (18.6ppg) – and this game will most probably be no different.
Apart from the AIS, these two teams concede the most points per game in the league, so the team that can turn in a consistent defensive performance will go a long way towards claming the win.
Rebounding will also play a major part in this game, with Townsville the second best rebounding team in the league at 44 per game and Perth the equal worst with 37 per game.
This will be Claudia Brassard's 100th game for Townsville. Carly Wilson needs just 6 points for 2000 WNBL points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Townsville 74 def Perth 50 in Perth (Round 4).
Dandenong v Bulleen: Dandenong Basketball Stadium, Friday 8pm (Local derby)
ABC Game of the Week: Broadcast LIVE on ABC2 from 8pm AEDT Friday, replayed on regular ABC-TV at 4pm on Saturday and again on ABC2 at 12:30pm on Sunday.
The previous two games in the Victorian derby that make up the Michele Timms Cup have ended in a home win for each side, meaning the winner of this game will hold the 2006Cup aloft.
At 7-and-8, this is a do-or-die match for the Rangers, who must win to stay in touch with the top fou, while Bulleen (9-5) will be pushing for a home final.
World champion defencejobs Opal Hollie Grima has been in brilliant form of late, winning her third Nivea Player of the Week last round while leading the league in total rebounds per game with 11.1, She also ranks second in points per game with 19.3, but the likes of Sharin Milner, Karen Ashby and Desiree Glaubitz have consistently provided the support Grima has needed.
Despite Dandenong sitting last in the league for total rebounds per game with 37, statistically there isn't much between the two sides.
Dandenong coach Gary Fox has said that every game from here on in is a final for the Rangers, while Bulleen have had a solid preparation and come into the game on a 3-game winning streak.
Sharin Milner needs 2 assists to reach 500 with Bulleen.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Bulleen 73 def Dandenong 65 in Bulleen (Round 10).
Canberra v Adelaide: AIS Arena, Saturday 7:30pm
Canberra (9-4) had a horror weekend last round, dropping two games on their Victorian road trip, while it has been smooth sailing for an Adelaide (10-2) side that has beaten every team in the competition.
Adelaide has been the best rebounding team in the league this season but Canberra possesses a trio of hard working talls in Abby Bishop, Tracey Beatty and Donna Loffhagen, making it a tough night under the glass for all involved.
Canberra seem to be playing at a slower place of late, while Adelaide are full of spirit and looking like the strongest team in the competition.
Five Lightning players – Erin Phillips, Tracey Gahan, Jess Foley, Sam Woosnam and Kristen Rasmussen - average in double figures in points per game and have taken over 50 rebounds each this season.
Canberra rely heavily on Jess Bibby (16.8ppg) for points so coach Carrie Graf will need an increased offensive output from her other players.
Adelaide is one of the only teams that holds a head-to-head advantage over Canberra, leading 30-11 in all games played.
WNBA import Kristen Rasmussen resumed light training during the week, but will not take the court in this game.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Adelaide 81 def Canberra 75 in Adelaide (Round 8).
Sydney Uni v Perth: Sydney Uni Sports & Aquatic Centre, Saturday 7pm
The Flames are coming off a gritty come-from-behind victory over Townsville, 75-72, while Perth (2-13) registered their second win of the season against the AIS on Saturday night.
This game looms as another tough contest for the Lynx with Sydney Uni (10-3) leading the league in points per game (83), field goal shooting percentage (46%), 3-point shooting percentage (37%) and assists (18).
Despite their limited victories, Crista Hays (10.1ppg), Melissa Marsh (8.0ppg) and Tall Fern Angela Marino (7.0ppg) have been playing well of late and have provided star recruit Carly Wilson (18.6ppg) with some much needed support.
But with the attacking potency and aggressive approach of the Flames - they have seven players that average over 9 points per game - Perth will need better than average games from their support players if they are to be competitive.
Their task was made tougher when 97-gamer Narelle Henry retired from the club after the two teams met in Round 9.
Head-to-head, Sydney Uni holds a commanding 38-6 overall lead.
This will be Sydney Uni forward Melissa Smith's 50th WNBL game.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Sydney Uni 97 def Perth 71 in Perth (Round 9).
AIS v Adelaide: AIS Training Hall, Sunday 12pm
The AIS was competitive when it met Adelaide last round, or more than the 25-point margin suggested anyway.
Adelaide were able to use their full contingent of players and Coach Chris Lucas will be looking to do the same this week, while for the AIS, Cayla Francis (12.0ppg) and Marianna Tolo (8.0ppg) have continued their recent good form and will prove a handful for the experienced Lightning.
The best chance the students have is to stay close to the Lightning in the early minutes of the game and go forward from there.
To the AIS's players' credit, they lead the league in blocked shots, but inexperience on the big stage has seen them commit the most turnovers per game of any team – and the most fouls.
Despite Kristen Rasmussen being out with an ankle injury, Adelaide still possesses an All-Star caliber starting five of Erin Phillips, Jess Foley, Tracey Gahan, Sam Woosnam and Lauren King, and that class should see them returning to South Australia with a firm grip on the top spot of the ladder.
The AIS have not beaten Adelaide since December 2003.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Adelaide 72 def AIS 47 in Adelaide (Round 10).
Basketball Australia