Preview: Southwest at Willetton, Women’s NBL

WILLETTON, Australia (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum will meet Friday when the Willetton women’s professional basketball team hosts Southwest in an Australia NBL matchup.

Both clubs enter the contest at Willetton Stadium with identical 1-3 records across all competitions this season, each looking to climb out of an early standings deficit.

The visiting Southwest side is coming off a difficult 102-81 road loss to Kalamunda on April 17. In that game, MarShaun Bostic scored 25 points and dished seven assists, while Briana Bailey led all scorers with 27 points. Bostic has been a consistent force for Southwest, averaging 16.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game this season. She recorded a triple-double of 22 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a loss to Goldfields on March 28.

Willetton snapped a three-game skid with a 69-62 home victory over Mandurah on April 18. Guard Ruby Porter powered that win with 21 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Porter has been a standout, averaging 22.0 points per game, including a 30-point outburst in a high-scoring loss to Perth Redbacks on April 10.

The matchup features two of the league’s most dynamic guards in Bostic and Porter, whose playmaking and scoring will be central to their teams’ fortunes. Southwest will need to improve defensively after allowing an average of 91.5 points in its three losses. Willetton will rely on Porter and frontcourt presence Emma Calvert, who posted 14 points and eight rebounds in the last outing.

Following this game, Willetton faces a quick turnaround with a road game at Kalamunda on Saturday. Southwest’s next contest is at Cockburn on May 1.

Friday’s tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. local time.