By Lachlan Onions
AN undermanned Mount Gambier Pioneers women’s team suffered back-to-back defeats in an away double-header over the weekend.
With Imogen Rock, Miela Goodchild and Cassandra Brown all out, it was always going to be a tough ask for the Pioneers.
The first game was on Saturday against the Geelong Supercats and the contest was even early on as the Pioneers took a 25-23 lead.
However, Geelong stepped up in the second and third quarters to take a 17-point lead with one quarter to play.
Mount Gambier fought back in the last quarter to reduce the deficit but it was not enough to prevent an 85-74 defeat at the Geelong Arena.
Isabella Brancatisano led the way for Mount Gambier in the first game with 35 points, eight rebounds and three assists, while Sherrie Calleia also impressed with 24 points, including an impressive seven three pointers.
The Pioneers then returned to the court on Sunday to take on the Melbourne Tigers and went down in a nail-biting contest.
Mount Gambier started strongly and held at five-point lead at both quarter and half time.
However, the Tigers hit back in the third stanza to level the scores at 55 points each.
Layups from Haliegh Reinoehl and Calleia gave the Pioneers a four-point lead with nine minutes to play.
However, it did not take long for Melbourne to diminish the deficit ad the hosts took a 61-59 lead with six minutes on the clock.
Brancatisano stood up with a big-time three-pointer to briefly give the Pioneers the lead before the Tigers went on a 5-0 scoring run to lead by four points with just over three minutes left.
Reinoehl made a three-pointer with three minutes left and the score was 66-65 in favour of the hosts.
However, from then on the Pioneers could not make a basket as the Tigers’ defence held firm and claimed a thrilling two-point win.
Brancatisano backed up her big game from the night before with a solid 16 points and five rebounds, while Reinoehl led the scoring for the Pioneers with 20 points.
Keryl Ousey made an impact on the glass with eight points and 12 rebounds, five of which were on the defensive end.
Mount Gambier has now fallen to fifth on the NBL1 South ladder with five wins from eight games and will face another tough clash in its next game when it hosts the Waverley Falcons on Friday night.
