Round Three continues at Eventfinda Stadium on Sunday afternoon as the BNZ Northern Kāhu host ProcureX Mainland Pouākai in Auckland.
Both teams arrive looking to respond after defeats their last time on the hardwood.
Kāhu return home at 1-2 after falling to Southern Hoiho on their homecourt last weekend. Jo Wood’s side has shown encouraging stretches through the opening rounds, including a comeback victory over the Queens, but consistency has been difficult to find across a demanding early-season schedule.
Pouākai suffered their first defeat on Friday night, going down to defending champions Tauranga Whai in Christchurch. They remain one of the competition’s most dangerous teams, leading Tauihi in scoring and carrying a frontcourt that has dominated the glass throughout the opening three games.
They will, however, be without one of their most productive players as their starting lineup gets amended for the first time this year.
For Kāhu, the challenge remains a difficult one. Pouākai lead the competition in field-goal percentage and rebounding margin, but they have also shown a vulnerability with the basketball giving the Kāhu an avenue into the contest if they can apply pressure and turn mistakes into points to grab the first home win of the season.
When: Sunday 11 October
Where: Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland
Rapid League: 2:00pm
Tauihi: 3:00pm
Watch Live: Sky Sport 4 and @skysportnz TikTok livestream in New Zealand, ESPN+ in the United States and FIBA YouTube everywhere else internationally
Commentary: Glen Larmar and Jaycin Tini
Box Score Here
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Kāhu will likely start Talya Brugler, Ella Fotu, Megan Mullings, Tayla Dalton and Erin Bollmann.
Olivia Williams moves to the bench, joining Kayla Manuirirangi, Emily Monaghan, Shanique Lucas, Azure Anderson, Sienna Maurice and Katie Moors make up the Rapid League group and are all available.
Pouākai will be without Mikayla Vaughn, who is unavailable due to concussion.
Morgan Yaeger, Mikayla Pivec, McKenna Dale and Rebekah Frisby-Smith remain in the starting five, with Esra McGoldrick moving into the starting group.
Emilia Ainley, Sari Mowbray, Ava Jones, Eva Jeffries, Ruby Cutbush, Maddy Timms and Bella Kraenzlin are available through the Rapid League group while Sarah Mortensen remains unavailable with a back injury.
Kāhu remained competitive early but were eventually unable to keep pace with Hoiho as the visitors pulled away after halftime.
Both teams struggled to find rhythm in the opening stages before Hoiho began to create separation through Julie Wojta and Lil Dart. Erin Bollmann helped keep Kāhu in touch, knocking down shots from the perimeter while also creating opportunities for teammates.
The home side closed the deficit to just two points at 26-24 during the second quarter, but Hoiho responded through Bec Pizzey and took a 35-27 advantage into halftime.
The gap widened in the third as the visitors found more success attacking the Kāhu defence and built a 56-41 lead heading into the final period.
Kāhu continued to compete, but Hoiho remained in control to secure the 12-point victory.
Bollmann led Kāhu with 14 points, six rebounds and seven assists, while Kayla Manuirirangi added 10 points from the bench.
Leading Players
Kāhu: Erin Bollmann (14P, 6R, 7A), Kayla Manuirirangi (10P)
Hoiho: Lil Dart (19P, 3R, 4A), Paige Bradley (15P, 4R, 13A), Bec Pizzey (15P, 3R, 2A)
Pouākai’s unbeaten start came to an end on Friday night, but not before a furious second-half comeback gave them an opportunity to steal the game late.
Whai established control early, taking a 25-18 first-quarter advantage before stretching the margin to 48-36 at halftime.
The home side responded behind Morgan Yaeger.
The guard poured in 28 points as the home side worked its way back into the contest, reducing the deficit to just two entering the fourth quarter.
The teams traded blows late before the score was tied at 78 with the game on the line. Carla Pitman then hit the biggest shot of the night, draining a three to put Whai ahead before Ashlee Strawbridge added the sealing free throw.
Yaeger finished with six rebounds and four assists to support her big scoring night. Elsewhere Mikayla Vaughn had 12 points, while McKenna Dale recorded another double-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds and five assists on a tough shooting night.
Leading Players
Pouākai: Morgan Yaeger (28P, 6R, 4A), Mikayla Vaughn (12P, 2R, 2A), McKenna Dale (11P, 10R, 5A)
Whai: Emme Shearer (24P, 3R, 2A), Laina Snyder (16P, 15R, 3A), Patricia Brossmann (12P, 7A)
Vaughn has been the competition’s leading scorer through the opening three games at 24.7 points per game while shooting 71 percent from the field.
Her absence removes Pouākai’s most efficient interior finisher and a player who has consistently demanded defensive attention around the basket.
McGoldrick moves into the starting five and brings her own brand of interior strength and scoring, but Pouākai may need to manufacture their offence differently on the block then they have been of late.
Dale becomes an even more important scoring option, Yaeger will carry additional responsibility as a creator and Pivec’s versatility will become particularly valuable.
The absence of Vaughn changes the rebounding equation, but it does not remove the visitor's advantage.
The Mainlanders lead Tauihi with a +16.3 rebounding margin and even without the power of Vaughn the boast McKenna Dale, the competition’s leading rebounder at 13 per game.
Pivec is averaging nine rebounds, while Rebekah Frisby-Smith has chipped in 6.3 per game.
Kāhu are negative in rebounding margin on the year despite the efforts of Megan Mullings, Talya Brugler and Bollmann who offer plenty of size and activity.
Without Vaughn the Kāhu have a better chance to stay relatively even on the glass.
If they can prevent Dale, Pivec and the Pouākai collective from creating repeated second chances, they can remove one of Pouākai’s biggest weapons from their arsenal.
This is where the home side has a clear opportunity to make an impact.
Kāhu rank second in Tauihi with a +1.7 turnover margin, while Pouākai sit last at -4.0.
Pouākai are averaging 17.7 turnovers per game and their opponents have consistently been able to create disruption.
Kāhu average over 10 steals per game, with Dalton, Bollmann and Mullings all capable of creating pressure.
The home side may not be able to match Pouākai possession-for-possession in a straight scoring contest. But if they turn the game into a more disruptive, physical affair they have a much better chance to protect the nest.
While Pouākai lead the league in shooting, Kāhu sit at the other end of the table.
They are averaging 67.0 points per game and shooting 34 percent from the floor and 23 percent from three, all league-low marks.
The positive has been their ability to get to the line.
Kāhu have made 59 free throws through three games and are shooting 74 percent from the stripe.
Brugler and Bollmann have been their most consistent scorers, but finding easier baskets in transition and through offensive rebounds will be important against a Pouākai defence holding opponents to 40 percent shooting while also leading the league in scoring.
| Category | Kāhu | Pouākai |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 1-2 | 2-1 |
| Points | 67.0, 5th | 93.0, 1st |
| Points Allowed | 76.0, 3rd | 79.7, 4th |
| Scoring Margin | -9.0, 4th | +13.3, 1st |
| FG% | 34%, 5th | 48%, 1st |
| Defensive FG% | 44%, 5th | 40%, 2nd |
| 3P% | 23%, 5th | 31%, 2nd |
| 3PM | 4.7 pg, 5th | 8.3 pg, 2nd |
| FT% | 74%, 3rd | 67%, 5th |
| Rebounding Margin | -1.7, 3rd | +16.3, 1st |
| Assists | 15.7, 5th | 20.3, 3rd |
| Turnover Margin | +1.7, 2nd | -4.0, 5th |
| Steals | 10.3, T-2nd | 7.7, 5th |
| Blocks | 4.7, 2nd | 1.7, 5th |
Pouākai have been the competition’s best offensive and rebounding team, while Kāhu’s biggest strengths have come through forcing mistakes, generating steals and protecting the rim.
The absence of Vaughn could narrow that gap around the basket, but Pouākai still hold significant advantages in overall shooting efficiency and rebounding.
| Category | Kāhu | Pouākai |
|---|---|---|
| Points | Erin Bollmann, 14.0 | Mikayla Vaughn, 24.7 (OUT) |
| Rebounds | Talya Brugler, 7.3 | McKenna Dale, 13.0 |
| Assists | Erin Bollmann, 5.0 | Morgan Yaeger, 6.0 |
| Steals | Tayla Dalton, 2.3 | Mikayla Pivec, 2.3 |
| Blocks | Erin Bollmann, 2.3 | McKenna Dale, 0.7 |
| FG% | Kayla Manuirirangi, 55% | Mikayla Vaughn, 71% (OUT) |
| 3PM | Kayla Manuirirangi, 1.7 pg | McKenna Dale, 4.0 pg |
Bollmann has given the Northerners a bit of everything and leads Kāhu at 14.0 points per game while adding 6.7 rebounds, five assists and 2.3 blocks.
Dale enters averaging 23.0 points, a league-leading 13 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
With Vaughn unavailable, Dale becomes even more important to everything Pouākai do offensively.
If Kāhu can make her work for touches, prevent her from controlling the defensive glass while forcing other Pouākai players to carry more of the scoring load they could limit the offensive ceiling of a team that can overwhelm defences when rolling.
McGoldrick’s move into the starting five creates a new set of problems for the defence.
She brings considerable power to the post but also offers the Pouākai another player capable stretching the floor.
Brugler is averaging 13.3 points and 7.3 rebounds and will look to establish herself physically after Kāhu were outrebounded in each of their opening three games.
The ability of Brugler and Mullings to attack the reshaped Pouākai frontcourt could become an important part of Kāhu’s game plan.
Yaeger arrives after her best game of the season to open the round.
Her 28 points against Whai lifted her average to 18.3 points per game, while she is also producing six assists.
Without Vaughn, expect even more of the Pouākai offence to flow through her.
Dalton’s pressure at the point of attack will be key to keeping that flow running smoothly.
Making Yaeger work to initiate offence and preventing her from comfortably getting Pouākai into their actions could disrupt a team already dealing with a significant lineup change.
Another matchup that takes on greater importance with Vaughn unavailable.
Pivec is averaging nine rebounds and 4.3 assists while shooting 58 percent from the field.
Mullings is averaging seven rebounds and has collected 10 offensive boards through three games.
Both players can influence a contest without needing plays called for them, and their battle around the glass could help determine which team gets the extra possessions.
Kāhu enter Sunday as the only unbeaten Rapid League team remaining.
They are 3-0 and lead the competition in both scoring at 38.0 points per game and defence at just 22.7 points allowed. Their +15.3 scoring margin is comfortably the best in Rapid League.
Pouākai sit at 2-1 after their first defeat of the season against Whai on Friday.
They average 30.0 points and allow 26.7, ranking second in both categories.
Kāhu’s early dominance has been built on efficiency and defensive pressure. They are shooting 44 percent from the field while holding opponents to just 24 percent, and their +5.0 turnover margin leads the competition.
Shanique Lucas has been one of the standout Rapid players of the opening rounds, averaging 10.3 points and shooting 50 percent from the field. Kayla Manuirirangi is adding 7.7 points per game.
Pouākai have received balanced production, with Ruby Cutbush averaging 7.7 points, Sari Mowbray 6.3 and Ava Jones 5.3.
Emilia Ainley, who leads Rapid League in rebounding at six per game, is also available for Pouākai, while Bella Kraenzlin remains in the active group.
It shapes as a strong early test for both sides, with Kāhu looking to protect their perfect record and Pouākai looking to bounce back immediately from Friday’s setback.
The first game of the day presents an intriguing clash of styles.
Pouākai have been the competition’s best offensive and rebounding team through three games, but this will be their first outing without Mikayla Vaughn.
Removing 24.7 points per game and one of the league’s most efficient interior scorers changes the shape of their attack. .
That puts greater responsibility on Dale, Yaeger and Pivec, while McGoldrick gets an opportunity to step directly into the starting group.
Kāhu should see an opportunity to prove themselves against the top of the table.
They need to create pressure, force turnovers, attack the reshaped Pouākai frontcourt and prevent Dale from controlling the glass.
Pouākai will be looking to prove that the opening game of the round was an aberration.
Will the Mainlanders re-establish themselves as the ladder leaders or will the Northerners make it even more crowded at the top?
