Sunshine Coast Phoenix v
Townsville Flames
Sunshine Coast Phoenix and the
Townsville Flames will square off for
both of their second games of the
weekend. This will be a completely
different challenge for Sunshine Coast
compared to their Friday night match
against the Dolphins. Townsville are
one of the league’s hottest teams and
with a more settled line up look like
they have found their winning formula
heading into the business end of the
season. Townsville should prove too
strong for the home side as they put
another dampener on Phoenix’s post
season hopes.
USC Rip City v Cairns Dolphins
USC Rip City and the Cairns Dolphins
will also square off for both of their
second games of the weekend.
Surprisingly Cairns have been a better
team on the road this season boasting
a 3-4 record away from Early Settler
Stadium. On paper this may look like
an easy win for USC but Cairns have
split their past 6 matches 3-3 and are
a much-improved outfit than earlier in
the season. This is the must win game
of the weekend for USC and have to
at least split their round 12 games if
they want to keep a stranglehold on
their current ladder position in 8th.
We’re predicting Kisha Lee to go big
and lead Rip to the W.
Toowoomba Mountaineers v
Ipswich Force
Despite a more competitive match
up Toowoomba suffered their 11th
straight loss as the Rockhampton
Cyclones escaped with the 78-70
win. Anita Brown was massive for the
home side finishing with 30 points, 12
rebounds and 5 steals. This is Brown’s
fourth straight game exceeding
30 points and she further keeps a
stranglehold on her position on top
of the league’s scoring table. They will
host the third placed Ipswich Force
who are coming off a strong 17-point
road victory over the Seahawks.
Ipswich managed to shoot 51% for the
game as they blew out North Gold
Coast. Despite the comfortable win,
Ipswich were outrebounded by 12
on the offensive end, which should
be an area for improvement coming
into this week. Ralph, Johnson and
McLaren were all dominant for the
visitors finishing with 26, 23 and 17
points respectively. Ipswich by double
figures.
Brisbane Capitals v Townsville
Flames
Brisbane were able to record their
first victory of season 2019, running
away with a comfortable 85-69 win
on the Sunshine Coast over the
Phoenix. Shanavia Dowdell put up
huge numbers with 22 points and
18 boards, whilst Francis Donders
facilitated well with 11 assists to go
along with 14 points. The Capitals
will enter their first game of the
weekend freshened compared to
their opposition who will be playing
their third match of the weekend.
Townsville have a realistic opportunity
to finish out round 12 going 3-0 and
putting themselves back in the top
4. This time of year the Flames have
much more on the line compared
to Brisbane and this should see
Townsville leave Auchenflower
Stadium with the victory.
South West Metro Pirates v North
Gold Coast Seahawks
With both sides entering their second
game of the weekend, South West
will be looking for their first home
victory since round 3 and to break
their 5-game home losing streak. With
the 8th placed Seahawks who hold a
3-4 record away from Runaway Bay
Indoor Stadium, the Pirates will look at
this as the perfect opportunity to turn
around their recent form at Hibiscus
Stadium. Deja Middleton has been
limited to under 20 points in 8 of her
10 matches and we expect her to have
a big game against a Pirates team that
has been struggling on the defensive
end as of late. Seahawks in a close
one.
Ipswich Force v Logan Thunder
In what is one of the biggest games of
the weekend which will feature 3rd v
5th on the table. Ipswich will return
to Llewellyn Stadium after a Saturday
night trip to Toowoomba and should
be looking for their second win of the
weekend. Logan will also be backing
up after a home game against the 4th
placed Gold Coast Rollers. This may
prove to be the biggest weekend of
the season for the visiting Thunder
with games against both sides directly
above them. Ipswich have had mixed
form at home as of late going 2-2
from their past 4 which included
a 2-point victory over the bottom
placed Capitals. Both teams will have
their work cut out keeping Ruef and
Johnson off the boards but we think
Ipswich may have too much depth
for the Thunder as they firm their
chances for a home final.
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