Back-to-back victories over La Trobe University and UniSC Mari have put UTS men’s basketballers in a strong position in the New Balance University Basketball League (UBL), while UTS women suffered close losses.
The men opened Round 4 in emphatic fashion, defeating La Trobe University 102–55 before backing it up with an 86–62 victory over UniSC Mari at Ross Milbourne Sports Hall on September 3.
Jamie Munro led the scoring against La Trobe with 26 points, shooting six-from-nine from two-point range and adding three triples. Kobe Shannon contributed 15 points and six rebounds, while Brodie Schwarzer added 14 points, including four three-pointers.
UTS also dominated the glass, finishing with 70 rebounds, including 22 offensive boards. Ethan Buchanan was particularly influential inside, recording a 14-point, 14-rebound double-double, while Oliver Hammond added eight rebounds and four assists.
It was another polished performance against UniSC Mari, with Luke Vrcelj leading UTS with 20 points, including four three-pointers, while Buchanan continued his dominant stretch with 18 points and 21 rebounds.
Captain Oliver Hammond played a key role across the floor with 10 assists and four steals, while Shannon added a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds. The side now sits comfortably in third place in the north east conference behind Sydney and Newcastle.
Reversal of fortune
UTS Women suffered narrow losses in both matches, going down 70–66 to La Trobe and 74-69 to UniSC Mari.
Captain Elle Fletcher led from the front against Melbourne’s La Trobe with 26 points and four steals, shooting an impressive nine-from-11 from inside the arc. Nicola Sainsbury added 18 points, including four three-pointers, while Tara Kalivitis was a standout on the boards with 15 rebounds.
UTS women lost narrowly to La Trobe. Photo by James O’Donohue.
The women pushed UniSC Mari all the way with Sainsbury topping the scoring with 17 points; Fletcher adding 12 points and four assists, and Victoria McCarthy collecting 10 rebounds in another strong effort.
Despite strong showings in both games UTS women are still searching for their first win.
Main image courtesy of James O’Donohue.
