Dandenong vs. Keilor

MELBOURNE, Australia (Interstat) — Keilor will look to extend its winning streak when it hosts Dandenong in a women’s professional basketball game Sunday in the NBL Australia competition.

Keilor (7-4) enters the matchup after a 92-71 victory over Kilsyth on May 16. Maddison Rocci posted a triple-double with 32 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists in that game, her second consecutive triple-double. Rocci also had 21 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in a 97-52 win against Hobart on May 10, and 16 points, four rebounds and seven assists in an 84-57 victory at Frankston on May 9.

Dandenong (3-9) is coming off a 91-73 loss to Knox on Saturday. Marena Whittle led the Rangers with 19 points, seven rebounds and one block in 35 minutes. Adrianna Smith added eight points and eight rebounds, and Imogen Rock scored 14 points.

Whittle also had 19 points, seven rebounds and one block in a 73-91 loss to an opponent on a previous date, according to team statistics. Dandenong has lost four of its last five games, with its only win in that stretch a 97-51 rout of Kilsyth on May 9.

Keilor has won three of its last four, with the lone loss a 93-68 defeat at Diamond Valley on May 2. The Thunder have proven strong at home, with a 7-4 overall record that includes several double-digit victories.

The game will be played at Melbourne, with tipoff scheduled for Sunday. Dandenong will aim to improve its road record, which has been inconsistent this season. The Rangers have lost five of six away games, including a 95-100 defeat at Hobart on May 15 and an 83-98 loss at Northern Force on May 16.

Keilor will look to feed off Rocci’s playmaking. The point guard has averaged 23.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 10.0 assists over her last three games. Tess Heal contributed 21 points, four rebounds and one assist in the win over Kilsyth, while Isabelle Bourne added 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four blocks.

Dandenong will need contributions beyond Whittle. In the loss to Knox, Smith and Rock combined for 22 points but the Rangers shot poorly from the field. Dandenong’s defense has allowed 87.3 points per game over its last three losses.

Sunday’s game is the first of a two-game road stretch for Dandenong, which visits Nunawading on May 30. Keilor also plays at Melbourne on May 30.