The UC Capitals are back in action this Sunday at the AIS Arena, as we once again host Han Xu and the Perth Lynx.
It wasn’t long since these two sides last met, with the Caps losing 75-49 in Perth on December 23. That loss snapped the Caps’ 4-game winning streak and after a home loss to Sydney a week ago, the Caps now enter this Sunday’s match tied for fourth spot in the ladder (6-8) with the Southside Melbourne Flyers.
There’s a lot at stake in this match – the Caps are starting off a very busy 7-game and road heavy January schedule against what looks like the current title favorites. Back-to-back losses against the Lynx and Flames, coupled with Flyers winning 4 of their last 5 games and suddenly, the Caps have company in the race for the 4th spot.
The Caps will once again be shorthanded against the Lynx, as the injury bug has hit the squad pretty good over the past two weeks. Jade Melbourne is out for at least another 4 weeks, Sara Blicavs continues to be a re-evaluated on a game-to-game basis but has been declared out for Sunday’s game, and injury replacement Tahlia Tupaea will also be out after lasting four and a half minutes before suffering a concussion against the Flames.
On the other side, the Lynx are rolling and a riding a 7-game winning streak since Han Xu joined the lineup in late November. They just trashed Adelaide on Friday and all their games haven’t been close – their average margin of victory is 23 points and they’re averaging 96 points per game in this stretch. Han’s integrated seamlessly into the lineup, and veterans Amy Atwell and Alex Wilson have found their form while Anneli Maley continues to put up MVP-type numbers.
Keys to the game
- Lock in defensively – the Lynx have been an offensive juggernaut since Han Xu’s arrival. In the 8 games before Han, they averaged 72.5 points per game. In the 7 games she’s played it’s a staggering 96 points per game. Han has unlocked so many facets of the team offensively with her presence. One thing the Caps have going is that the last time the squad faced Perth, they limited them to 75 points. Keeping the Lynx within 70-80 points will give the Caps their best shot to win especially with Jade and Sara both out.
- Locate Maley at all times – Maley is once again the runaway leader in rebounds per game, averaging almost 14 boards per game. Her relentless motor and knack for the ball allows her to track boards regardless of where she is on the court. The Lynx seem to get an extra energy boost from her board work so it’s imperative for the Caps to limit her on the glass, especially on the offensive glass, especially after she pulled down 21 against the Caps back in December.
- Capitalise on open looks on offense – with Jade and Sara out, the Caps only have a small margin for error offensively. The offense will run through Z and she will command attention and her playmaking and IQ will allow her to find cutters and shooters, but the Caps have to capitalise on those opportunities. In wins, the Caps have shot close to 40% from 3. In losses, it’s less than 20%. Against an explosive team like Perth, the Caps can’t afford another subpar offensive game. The team is more than capable, they just have to finish off possessions with makes.
Key matchup
Zitina Aokuso v Han Xu – The matchup in the middle will once again be pivotal. These two world-class and national team veterans will square up for the third time this season. Han’s gotten the best of this matchup the first two times, but our Z is locked in and ready to get some payback this time around.
Game notes
- Sara Blicavs is OUT (Knee injury management)
- Jade Melbourne is OUT (Hand surgery).
- Tahlia Tupaea is OUT (Concussion protocols).
