Preview – UC Capitals to go big for last regular season home game
- When: Sunday, 27 February at 3pm
- Where: National Convention Centre Canberra
- How to watch: Kayo Freebies
The UC Capitals will reach the end of their home fixture for the 21-22 regular season when they take on the Melbourne Boomers Sunday afternoon at the NCCC.
The Caps are in for three weeks of road trips before finals time, making this the last opportunity to enjoy their home court and crowd.
12 Rounds in and yet this will be the first time the UC Capitals will play the Melbourne Boomers after their last scheduled game was impacted by COVID-19.
The Boomers are sitting fourth on the ladder and are just coming off a win over the Townsville Fire on Friday night.
Britt Smart said that the Boomers pose a threat with weapons across the board from their imports to their bench.
“We haven’t faced them yet so it’s a little bit of an unknown in our match up and how exactly we’re going to go but we love that challenge.
“It’s exciting that we’re playing a top four team for our last home game, I think it will just make an awesome environment.”
The Boomers’ WNBA import Tiffany Mitchell will be a problem on the scoreboard, currently averaging 16.2 points per game, followed closely by Australian Opal Ezi Magbegor at 15.5.
Although the UC Capitals have recently had some hot offensive starts, most recently with a 32-point first quarter against Townsville, the focus will be on their defence, restricting the Boomers’ fire power and remaining adaptable to the flow of the game.
The UC Capitals are on still on a high, now on a six game win streak, but they are not at all complacent with a schedule of top four clashes to come.
“It’s going to be a good test to see where we are, how we compete and what brand of basketball that we’re playing leading into the finals,” said Smart.
“It’s a good challenge. We’re here to compete against the best competition no matter what part of the season that it’s in.”
Jade Melbourne and Alicia Froling have been back in action this week after a CVOID scare had them isolated during the Caps’ game against Townsville.
With a full squad, the other critical piece to get the win against Melbourne will be the unrelenting Canberra crowd to give the Capitals a boost.
“The fans need to get there. We thrive off their energy and vibrations that they bring to us on the court,” said Smart.
Fans will also be able to enjoy the Indigenous Round activations, including seeing the players don their Indigenous uniforms, a Welcome to Country by a Ngunnawal Elder, Aunty Violet Sheridan, and quarter time entertainment from the Wiradjuri Echoes.
There will also be a giveaway of 1000 limited edition, specially-minted commemorative Indigenous $2 coin featuring the Aboriginal Flag to the players and fans in attendance of the February 27 game at the NCCC. The Royal Australian Mint is producing the coin to mark 50 years since the first raising of the Aboriginal Flag in 1971.
To purchase tickets, click here.