Round 12 Preview – UC Capitals third trip against Sydney
The UC Capitals are ready to hit the road again as they prepare for their third matchup of the season against the Sydney Flames.
Head coach, Kristen Veal, says the series against Sydney has proven to be highly competitive as both teams found their rhythm, with the final instalment set to be the peak of their rivalry.
“They’ve been battling a bit throughout the year and still trying to find their connect and their flow, and they’ve had some great games against us. Their last game against us they managed to overrun us in that second half so we’re looking forward to the third outing,” Veal said.
The Flames currently sit in fifth place on the WNBL ladder and are on the cusp of breaking into the top four as they currently sit on equal wins with Perth Lynx (4th) and Southside Flyers (3rd).
Veal says her team has taken a lot out of their first two meetings and are prepared to find their fifth win of the season.
“We’re going to be throwing everything we’ve got at it, we know that they’ve got some experience, we know they’ll be coming off a game against Adelaide, but for us it’s just to learn from the first two games like we have all season and put in a good game plan and be fresh enough to execute it,” Veal said.
The Caps first two games against the Flames proved to be an intense matchup as they came agonisingly close to an upset, going down by five-points in Round 3 and just two-points in Round 6.
Recent Australian Opals select, Jade Melbourne, was the top scorer in both games, first posting 31 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and followed up with 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists in their second meeting.
Alex Sharp was also significant in both games, earning a double-double in both games with 16 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, and 14 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists.
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Sydney are coming off back-to-back wins, including a tight one-basket win over the Lynx, and a dominate 23-point victory over the Adelaide Lightning in which five players entered double figures for points.
The Caps also recorded an upset over the Lynx in the previous round, but most recently were unable to stop the Bendigo Spirit from running away with a win.
Despite the result, the team have taken their learnings and are using it as fuel to keep progressing their game.
“What we learnt is that we need to look after our bodies, we need to adapt quicker when opposition teams make changes and adjustments and teams are going to do that to us.
“When we are arguably the in-form team over the last month, teams are going to look at what we’re doing and how we’re scoring and how we’re defending and try to pick it apart. It’s a compliment but we can’t sit in that compliment we need to have a look how people are picking us apart and one up that and be smarter next time,” Veal said.
Watch the Caps in action on Friday 19th January at 7pm on 9Now.