MAITLAND, Australia (Interstat) — The Hills and Maitland women’s basketball teams meet Saturday in an Australia NBL matchup at Maitland, with both sides seeking to improve sub-.500 records. Hills enters at 4-5 across all competitions, while Maitland is 3-6.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. local time.

Hills (4-5) is coming off a 87-76 loss to Centre of Excellence on May 16. Forward Ella Gale, a key player for Hills, logged 30 minutes in that defeat, finishing with 8 points and 13 rebounds. Over her past five games, Gale has averaged roughly 9.4 points and 10.0 rebounds per contest, with her best effort a 13-point, 5-rebound, 2-block performance in an 84-81 win at Sydney Comets on May 9. She also posted an 11-point, 9-rebound, 2-assist, 4-block outing in an 81-54 victory over Central Coast on April 25.

Maitland (3-6) lost its most recent game 78-60 at Newcastle on May 16. Guard Kasey Neubert led Maitland in that game with 15 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 blocks in 29 minutes. Neubert has been consistent, averaging 12.0 points and 8.4 rebounds over her last five appearances. She scored 17 points with 9 rebounds in a 91-90 overtime loss at Hornsby on April 25 and had 12 points and 10 rebounds in a 73-64 loss to Centre of Excellence on April 26.

Saturday’s game marks the only scheduled regular-season meeting between the two teams before they face off again July 4 at Hills. Both squads have struggled defensively: Hills has allowed 79.6 points per game in its five losses, while Maitland has given up 80.7 points per contest in its six defeats.

Hills will look to bounce back after a tough stretch that saw them lose three of their last four games. Their wins have come against Canberra Nationals (91-78), Sydney Comets (84-81) and Central Coast (81-54). Maitland, meanwhile, has lost five of its last six, with the lone victory a 65-63 road win at Albury Wodonga on May 9.

Other players to watch: For Hills, forward Piper Anderson scored 22 points in the loss to Centre of Excellence, and guard Jade Kirisome added 14 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists. For Maitland, forward Shakera Reilly had 16 points and 1 rebound in the Newcastle loss, and guard Jess Finney contributed 11 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists.

The game will be played at Maitland, a venue where the home team is 2-3 this season. Hills is 1-4 on the road.

Following Saturday, Maitland hosts Manly Warringah on Sunday, while Hills travels to Manly Warringah on May 30.