Author: Tristan Prentice

Eagles fly - Matt Debney first was spotted for LTU in 2022, he was back again from the tip against the Waatu - Photo provided by AU

Eagles fly in fourth to take out Waatu Women

The Waatu Women had every chance to take out their second straight win at home in the season – but the Eagles of La Trobe University flew in and swooped in the fourth to put them out of reach 76-116 at the State Basketball Centre.   

A hot shooting start from the Eagles Kayla Vitale was offset by the strong play inside from Petra Rychtarcikova (Architecture) and the return of Alice Sabine (Medicine) to level it out 24-28 after one quarter. The Waatu continued to go toe-to-toe with the Eagles who only had six available players but showed their ability to hang tough thanks to Emily Maltezos and Alana Poulton who had strong contributions in the first half. The Waatu left it at 48-50 at the half still very much in the game thanks to Sabine’s presence with 17 points at 50 percent and four rebounds. 

Poulton was the one who exploded for the Eagles in the third quarter dominating in multiple facets with 12 points and six rebounds along with Maltezos as they reeled off a 3-14 run at the start of the quarter to get out to a 51-64 lead. Some late points to Sabine cut it back to 68-78 however and it was still game on. 

That changed unfortunately for the home side in the final term with the Eagles captain Talia D’Agostino (11 points in the final term to finish with 21 points and 13 rebounds) leading them to a crushing 10-38 final term as they blew out the homeside – Vitale finishing where she started with nine final quarter points.

The Eagles had many winners in their six with Maltezos leading the way with 30 points at 63 percent with four triples and 14 assists, six rebounds and five steals backed up by Poulton with 21 points and 19 rebounds (six offensive). Maltezos and Vitale who finished with 24 points and four triples along with seven assists and rebounds created 28 fast break points for the visitors. 

Sabine was Waatu’s best on return with 25 points with 90 percent from the charity stripe, 11 rebounds and four steals backed up by Rychtarcikova with 12 points and nine rebounds and Georgia Winter with nine points and 11 rebounds. They helped create 27 second chance points from 37 offensive rebounds with 20 between the top three players of the match. 

The Women have another home game taking on RMIT Redbacks who sit at the lower end of the table – and have every chance to take this one out but need a big crowd Wednesday at the State Basketball Centre.              

RD 5 Women AU Waatu 76 (Sabine 25, Rychtarcikova 12, Winter, Brooks-Birve 9) defeated by LTU Eagles 116 (Maltezos 30, Poulton 25, Vitale 24, D’Agostino 21, Stafford 14)

Eagles continue flight up table at expense of Waatu 

The Waatu Men were swooped on at the start and were never able to recover as LTU completed the double with a comfortable 74-104 win.  

Harry Bruce (commerce) returned with a vengeance with 10 points in the opening quarter having an intriguing battle with the Eagles Sam Holland (six in the opening quarter) as both teams traded blows early. Matt Debney one of the few players left cover from their first home encounter in 2022 also solid with six points but LTU’s 0-9 run set them up with a 19-26 lead after one stanza. 

Debney however got rolling as he went for 12 points and six rebounds in the quarter as the Eagles capitalised on the Waatu’s turnovers with 19 points. Only Bruce and Ayual Garang (Architecture) were able to keep the Waatu in touch but a long way back with a 31-51 deficit at the half. 

Waatu levelled up the quarter score in the third thanks to Bruce and Garang again but were still having trouble containing Debney, Holland and Nick Day (10 for the quarter to finish with 16 points for the match align with eight rebounds) and Lorne Waldron (eight points for the quarter) as the Waatu still remained at arm’s length distance trailing 58-82 with one to go – Randy Shanklin’s group in comfortable control.

The last quarter gave us an opportunity to see the role players from both sides hit the scoreboard but both teams settled the result fairly early as the Eagles comfortably held their own in the final term. 

Debney was clearly best with 25 points at 77 percent and 11 rebounds and was highly efficient when it mattered but also gained plenty of support from Waldron with 24 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks and Holland with 19 points, six rebounds and three assists. Bruce was the clear best with 24 points with four triples and eight rebounds and put in effort all afternoon backed by Garang with 22 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.      

The Waatu’s fixture gets crucial with a must win match at home Wednesday against the RMIT Redbacks sitting just below them on the table – they’ll be hoping to be 4-3 heading into the final road matches of the blitz like season.                    

RD 5 Men AU Waatu 74 (Bruce 24, Garang 22, Hampel 8, Kourani 7) defeated by LTU Eagles 104 (Debney 25, Waldron 24, Holland 19, Day 16, Rotundo 9)

Catch the Waatu’s sixth round games this week against Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) Redbacks on Wednesday on Uni Sports TV from 11:00am.

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