CHRISTCHURCH (Interstat) — S. Hoiho will visit Mainland Pouakai on Saturday in a women’s professional basketball matchup between two teams tied atop the early season standings.

Both teams enter at 3-1. Mainland Pouakai will look to protect home advantage after a high-scoring recent stretch, while S. Hoiho aims to carry momentum from a narrow home victory in its most recent outing. The teams met earlier this season, with Mainland Pouakai taking an 87-80 home win over S. Hoiho.

Rebecca Pizzey is a player to watch for S. Hoiho. In her most recent game, a home win over Tokomanawa, she finished with 17 points and five rebounds in 21 minutes. She also had 15 points and three rebounds in a road win at Northern Kahu, and 15 points and six rebounds in a road win at Mid-North Whai. In the earlier meeting with Mainland Pouakai, Pizzey recorded 14 points, six rebounds, six assists and two blocks while playing 40 minutes. Paige Bradley added 17 points and nine assists in S. Hoiho’s latest win, and Marie Bertholdt scored 16 points with seven rebounds.

Mikayla Pivec leads the Mainland Pouakai attack. She posted 15 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and one block in a road win at Northern Kahu. Earlier, she had 10 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in a road win at Tokomanawa, and nine points, seven rebounds and five assists against S. Hoiho. She also contributed five points, seven rebounds and three assists in a loss to Tauranga Whai. Pivec has recorded at least five rebounds in each of her past four games. In Mainland Pouakai’s most recent victory, Morgan Yaeger scored 26 points with six rebounds and seven assists, while Esra Mcgoldrick added eight points, seven rebounds, one assist and two blocks.

S. Hoiho has won three of its past four games, with the only loss coming against Mainland Pouakai. The visitor had three players score in double figures in its latest win, with Pizzey, Bradley and Bertholdt leading the way. Mainland Pouakai also has won three of four, and its offense has produced three games of at least 87 points. The home side’s most recent result was a 94-87 road win at Northern Kahu.

Mainland Pouakai’s upcoming schedule includes a home game against Tokomanawa before a road trip to Mid-North Whai and Northern Kahu. S. Hoiho will host Mid-North Whai and Northern Kahu before consecutive road games at Tokomanawa. The teams are scheduled to meet again at S. Hoiho later in the season.

Interstat’s game simulator projects Mainland Pouakai to defeat S. Hoiho 93-72.