It’s a big week for the League with seven games in the round and you can see the Rangers’ in pink when they host Adelaide Lightning in the ABC TV Game of the Week.
Don’t forget you can follow all the games with LIVE STATS.
*All times are listed in local time
Friday 24th October
Dandenong Rangers v Adelaide Lightning – 8.00pm at Dandenong Basketball Stadium, LIVE on ABC2 from 8pm AEDT, replayed on ABC1 from 2.30pm Saturday
The Dandenong Rangers will stand-out in their pink uniforms on Friday night when they face top of the table Lightning.
Adelaide is undefeated this season, the Rangers record stands at 1-1, defeating Logan in their season debut before falling to the Bendigo Spirit in Round 3.
Despite Adelaide coming out on top last season, the Rangers won the first two meetings between the teams in the early rounds.
Lightning guard Jess Foley will be fired up as the fixture marks her 100th ADF WNBL game.
Adelaide leads the overall head-to-head but the Rangers have the edge when they’re at home.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Adelaide 29 – 18 Dandenong
Photo courtesy of Milbank Photography
AIS v Perth Lynx – 7.00pm at AIS Training Hall
The AIS are still searching for their first win and will aim to get across the line against the Lynx on Friday night.
The AIS were defeated by Townsville and Logan last round but had a close call against Sydney Uni in Round 2, going down by just three points.
Elizabeth Cambage is the main destroyer for the Institute; she has led the team in scoring this season.
The key to this game will be if Deanna Smith can take the court; the top-scoring Smith has been under an injury cloud since missing Round 3 due to a thigh strain and twisted her ankle at training during the week.
The AIS use their home court to their advantage with a 15-11 record against Perth at the Training Hall.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Perth 31 – 24 AIS
Photo courtesy of Eric Li
Townsville Fire v Sydney Uni Flames – 7.30pm at New Projects Australia Stadium
This will be one of the clashes to watch. Sydney Uni comes into the Pink Ribbon Round on a high after devastating Canberra 90-75 on Saturday.
Townsville are yet to be truly tested but sit in second spot on the ladder. The Fire defeated Perth 90-65 and the AIS 86-61.
Townsville beat the Flames 85-62 in the pre-season, however Sydney Uni import Lindsey Pluimer did not play in that game and the American has been one of the leading scorers since joining the Flames.
Australian Defence Force Opal Rohanee Cox and Jennifer Crouse have been the leading basket-scorers for the Fire, Alicia Poto and Pluimer are the danger players from Sydney Uni.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Sydney Uni 17 – 5 Townsville
Photo courtesy of Dan Slattery
Saturday 25th October
Bendigo Spirit v Perth Lynx – 7.30pm Bendigo Stadium
The Spirit will be buoyed by their first up win and the inclusion of Nivea Player of the Week for Round 3 Kristi Harrower.
Harrower scored 34 points to lead Bendigo to the win, backed up by Gabe Richards on the scoreboard.
If Deanna Smith is injury-free it will be a tight contest. But Perth will need to lift their energy with only 24 hours to recover from playing the AIS in Canberra on Friday night.
Perth also has one win on the board and if Smith is in the side, she could prove the difference.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Bendigo 2 – 2 Perth
Photo courtesy of Andrew Perryman
Logan Thunder v Sydney Uni Flames – 7.30pm at Insports Cornubia Park
This will be the first time Logan captain Kristen Veal faces her former teammates on the court.
The teams have two wins apiece and both will be fighting to keep their winning momentum.
The two sides met in pre-season with Sydney Uni taking the honours, however Logan was undermanned and the Flames were without American import Lindsey Pluimer.
The game is also the first ADF WNBL meeting between the teams of siblings Flames Coach Karen Dalton and Logan General Manager Mark Dalton.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: This is the first ADF WNBL match between the two sides
Photo courtesy of Warren Keir SMP Images
Sunday 26th October
Bulleen Boomers v Adelaide Lightning – 2.00pm at The Veneto Club
Bulleen is currently in fourth position on the ladder with a 2-1 record. The undefeated Lightning is in first place.
Bulleen defeated Logan and Perth but lost to Canberra. Adelaide has overpowered Sydney Uni, Bendigo and Perth.
Adelaide has a formidable line-up with Jess Foley, Tracy Gahan and Cayla Francis. Rebecca Duke stepped up against Perth on Sunday posting 25 points.
Elyse Penaluna and Katrina Hibbert will be the players to watch in Bulleen after leading the Boomers to their second win last weekend and it will be Zoe Carr’s 50th game for Bulleen.
Lightning has a strong record against the Boomers and will be tough to beat as they carry hot form into the game.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Adelaide 32 – 9 Bulleen
Photo courtesy of Boomers Media
AIS v Canberra Capitals – 2.00pm at the AIS Training Hall
This will be an exciting Canberra derby. The AIS fell to Sydney Uni by just three points in their season opener, and the Caps lost to the Flames just last weekend.
The AIS showed more control with fewer fouls in Round 3 and will need to repeat the effort to stay in touch with Canberra who will be fired up to bounce back from their first loss.
The AIS play the Lynx on Friday night but should be recovered to challenge the Caps.
A highlight of the game will be a battle of the bigs between 203cm AIS centre Elizabeth Cambage and Canberra’s 202cm Tracy Beatty.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Canberra 24 – 13 AIS
Photo courtesy of Eric Li
By Kimberley Lewis for WNBL Media
