Rush Look to Finish Season with a Victory Against Conference Rival

THRIFTY ROAD GAME PREVIEW

The Integra Ballarat Rush have the opportunity to end their 2014 SEABL season with a bang as they travel to the Geelong Arena to take on the Geelong Lady Supercats this Saturday from 6pm.

When the two teams met in Round 12, it started as if it would go down to the wire, as the first two quarters were a back-and-forth scoring contest; the Rush with the six-point advantage at halftime. Unfortunately, a lacklustre second half from the Rush, shooting a woeful 25% from the field for the half, saw them go down to the Lady Supercats, 51-74.

While there were no real standouts for the Rush in their first meeting against the Supercats, captain Kristy Rinaldi did her best to keep her team in the game, ending up with 13 points, while Abbey Wehrung shipped in with 12 points. An uncharacteristically quiet night for Steph Cumming, as she only managed to score 10 points on the night.

The Rush’s biggest challenge in getting over the line against the Lady Supercats will be in their ability to contain Sara Blicavs, Geelong’s leading scorer and rebounder. In their first meeting, Blicavs was best on court with 17 points and eight rebounds on the night. Similarly, Alex Duck is another offensive threat for the Supercats, with her ability to score off the drive or from the perimeter, as well as manage the team’s offence. Controlling Duck’s offensive output will also be essential to the Rush coming out with a win.

As defence will be a big focus, having a controlled tempo and effective offence will be essential in the Rush coming out of the match with a victory. With Cumming and Wehrung leading the offensive charge, the Geelong defence will be catered to them, meaning other starters such as Rinaldi, import Nya Mason, and Bronte Clark will be expected to have a big night, as well as the team receiving solid contribution from the bench.

The Rush will be eager to get the win against their conference rivals and intend to make their last match of the season one to remember. Support your Integra Ballarat Rush by getting down to the Geelong Arena or following the stats live at seabl.com.au/livestats.

Thank you to Thrifty Ballarat for supplying all our travel needs.