Round 10 Preview: UC Capitals on the road against Flyers
After welcoming in the New Year and having a week break between games, the UC Capitals are ready to hit the road again to take on the Southside Flyers for Round 9 of the Cygnett WNBL.
The Caps ended 2023 with an 8-point loss to the Perth Lynx but will take momentum from their opening quarter where they took an early 16-point lead.
Head coach, Kristen Veal, says the team has taken some lessons from the loss but are still locked into their recent good form which earned them their first two wins of the season.
“We’ve been working hard, we’ve been so close, we’ve tipped over the edge and had a few wins and we’ve legitimately found a consistency in our performance. We’ve got a few things that we’re focusing on tidying up and when we do that we’re excited for the rest of the season and to see how many more wins we can get.”
It was the definition of a team effort against Perth, with five Caps players each in double-digits on the scoreboard.
Despite some foul trouble, Jade Melbourne led the Caps with 25 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds, followed by Alex Sharp with yet another double-double of 16 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists.
Coming off the bench, Gemma Potter had her best game of the season so far, ending with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks.
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Flyers are also coming off the back of a loss after going down by six points to the Melbourne Boomers earlier this round.
American import, Mercedes Russell, lead the statistics for her team posting a double-double of 17 points, 12 rebounds and 2 assists. While young gun, Nyadiew Puoch, was also influential with 11 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals.
It will be the third time the two teams have met this season, with the Flyers taking the win on both occasions.
However, since their last meeting the Caps have stepped their game up a level and have gone on to upset the Melbourne Boomers and Adelaide Lightning.
Veal is happy with how the Caps have developed their game in recent weeks and are ready to take on the challenge Flyers present.
“They’re going to be hungry from that loss last night, but they’ve also showed a few gaps in their armour against Perth and Melbourne, so that’s an opportunity for us.
“They’ve got depth and size and the ability to score so I think that’s what their weapons have always entailed especially throughout this year. So, for us, its can we maintain our defensive focus and disrupt a couple of their key players and then just be solid on everyone else,” Veal said.
The Caps will also be boosted by the return of Alex Bunton into the playing squad, who has missed the last few weeks with a quad tear.
“I’ve had a good week of training just easing into it but I’m really excited to get back in it and do what I can for the girls and be that big presence we don’t have against Southside, so I’m really excited to play,” Bunts said.
After three weeks on the sidelines, Bunts is eager to get back on the court and join the Caps momentum.
“To watch them blossom and watch them progress the way they have its super exciting that either win or lose we’ve been doing such a good job and I’m very proud of them.
“It’s exciting for me because I know they’re on a roll, so they’re ready and to come back into it you just do your part and that’s what I’m here for, and to enjoy it. I want to enjoy that success on the court but it’s just as much the excitement to see them and see how happy they are after the hard work has paid off,” she said.
Catch the Caps in action on Saturday 6th January at 7pm on 9Now.