TOWNSVILLE, Australia (Interstat) — The undefeated Cairns women’s basketball team, riding a nine-game winning streak, visits Townsville on Friday night in a National Basketball League matchup that pits the league’s hottest team against a home side looking to snap a two-game skid.

Tipoff is at 7 p.m. local time at Townsville Stadium.

Cairns (9-0) has dominated the early season, winning every game by an average margin of more than 15 points. The visitors are coming off a 90-82 victory at Brisbane on June 13, a game in which forward Mia Loyd posted 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists in 28 minutes. Loyd has been a force throughout the campaign, averaging 22.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 7.0 assists over her last three outings, including a 23-point, 14-rebound, seven-assist effort against Mackay on May 23.

Townsville (6-4) has lost two straight, including a 75-83 home defeat to North Gold Coast on June 13. Guard Courtney Woods has been the bright spot, recording 31 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in that loss. Woods is averaging 27.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 10.0 assists over her last four games, though the team has split those contests.

The head-to-head history heavily favors Cairns. In two meetings this season, Cairns won by a combined 57 points: 105-73 at home on April 18 and 92-67 at home on May 9. Both games were played in Cairns; Friday will be the first meeting in Townsville.

Cairns’ depth extends beyond Loyd. In the Brisbane win, Taryn Bond added 20 points and six assists, while Summah Evans contributed 16 points and six rebounds. The team has won its last four road games by double digits.

Townsville will lean on Woods and forward Bree Stephens, who had 16 points and two rebounds in the loss to North Gold Coast. Center Ella Tofaeono added eight points and four rebounds.

The Fire have struggled defensively against Cairns’ balanced attack, allowing 98.5 points per game in the two previous matchups. Improving transition defense will be critical to slow Loyd and Bond.

Friday’s game begins a challenging stretch for both teams. Cairns travels to Mackay on Saturday, while Townsville hosts Ipswich on June 27.

Cairns enters with the league’s best record and a chance to reach 10-0. Townsville aims to regain momentum and defend home court against a team it has not beaten since last season.