NEWCASTLE (Interstat) — Sheffield will visit Newcastle on Saturday for a women’s professional basketball game between teams seeking momentum in the early part of their schedules.

Sheffield enters with a 1-2 record after a 75-66 home loss to Oaklands in its most recent game. Laycee Drake, Sheffield’s player to watch, finished with 17 points, six rebounds and one assist in 32 minutes. Tierra Hodges added 16 points and seven rebounds, and Nina Krisper contributed nine points, eight rebounds, two assists and one block. Drake also had 13 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in a loss to Manchester earlier this season. Sheffield’s 1-2 start includes a home loss to Oaklands, a home loss to Manchester and a 103-64 road win at Cardiff. Sheffield will look to Drake for scoring and all-around production while trying to build on that road win.

Newcastle is 2-1 and will play at home after a 104-82 loss at Caledonia in its most recent game. Nala Williams, Newcastle’s player to watch, had 20 points, four rebounds, five assists and one block in that defeat. T. Raven led Newcastle with 22 points and eight rebounds, while Maddy Hinton added 19 points, four rebounds and five assists. Williams previously scored 14 points with three rebounds and four assists in a win over Nottingham and posted 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists in a road win at Leicester. Newcastle opened the season with a 91-70 win at Leicester and followed with an 80-55 home win over Nottingham before the loss at Caledonia. Williams has scored in double figures in each of the three performances listed. Newcastle’s two victories have come against Nottingham and Leicester, and the team will rely on Williams to create offense and contribute on the boards.

The matchup features two teams with contrasting recent results and productive top options. Sheffield’s upcoming schedule includes a road game at Leicester, a home contest against London and a trip to Essex. Newcastle’s upcoming slate includes a visit to Essex, a home game against Manchester and a home matchup with London. Both teams will be looking to use the game as a step toward consistent form before their next stretch of games. The teams are scheduled to meet again later in the season in Sheffield. The game is part of a busy stretch for both clubs.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Sheffield 82, Newcastle 76. Sheffield has been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -7.5. The over/under for the game is 155.5.