SUPERCATS’ HOME DOUBLE
THE Geelong Supercats women put on a scoring clinic at The Arena on Saturday night, running over NBL1 newcomers Eltham Wildcats, 96-60.
The Supercats were unstoppable with their brilliant ball movement and teamwork, as the home team jumped out to an early lead and never looked like losing it.
Defensively, the Supercats contained Eltham’s usual leading scorers, Vanessa Panousis and Chelise Schweers, to assume control of the match. Margaret Mulligan led the Wildcats with 18 points.
The Supercats put the game beyond any doubt early in the final quarter, scoring 10 straight unanswered points in the first two minutes, before outscoring Eltham for the term 28-15.
Up by 33 points with five minutes to go, the Supercats bench players hit the court to finish out the game.
Recently drafted WNBA player Ezi Magbegor led all scorers with 21 points for the Supercats, while the rest of the front court trio, Sara Blicavs and Zitina Aokuso, each added 18 points.
Blicavs praised the leadership and experience of captain Alex Duck in setting the tone of the game.
“We like to call ourselves the OGs — me, Ducky, Isa (Brancatisano) and Ebony (Rolph),” Blicavs said.
“We’ve played together for a while now and we know how the system is run.
“The coach changed up the starters this week, letting the older ones lead the charge and Ducky did such a great job on (Chelsie) Schweers, she was scoreless for the first half.”
Coach David Herbert agreed, saying that putting Duck into the starting line-up injected the defensive pressure that was lacking against Frankston last week.
“All the girls followed suit. It was a real captain’s effort by Ducky,” Herbert said.
The Supercats travel to Canberra this week for an Anzac Day clash against the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence, followed by a home game at The Arena on Saturday against the Kilsyth Cobras.