Round Four closes in Auckland on Sunday afternoon as BNZ Northern Kāhu host The Northern Group Tauranga Whai at Trusts Arena as they take their home court out west.
The teams arrive from very different positions on the Tauihi ladder.
Whai improved to 3-1 on Friday night with another composed late-game performance, holding off ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens in Porirua. Emme Shearer continued her outstanding start to the season, Laina Snyder produced across the statline and Patty Brossmann dominated the glass.
Kāhu, meanwhile, are 1-3 after falling to Mainland Pouākai in their most recent outing to close round 3.
There were plenty of positives in that defeat. Mo Mullings exploded for her biggest scoring day of the season, Erin Bollmann filled the stat sheet while threatining a triple double, and Kāhu produced their best offensive performance of the season.
Now comes a second test against the defending champions.
Whai won the first meeting between these teams on opening night, but Kāhu have shown significant offensive growth since then. Sunday gives them a chance to measure that improvement against a Whai team that currently owns the league’s best defence.
Can Kāhu turn their improved offence into a statement home win, or will Whai make it four victories from five and continue to keep pace near the top of the table?
When: Sunday 18 October
Where: Trusts Arena, Auckland
Rapid League: 2:00pm
Tauihi: 3:00pm
Watch Live: Sky Sport 5 and @skysportnz TikTok LIVE in New Zealand, ESPN+ in the United States and FIBA YouTube everywhere else internationally
Commentary: Taylah Johnson and Casey Frank
Box Score Here
Buy Tickets Here
Kāhu will start Talya Brugler, Ella Fotu, Megan Mullings, Tayla Dalton and Erin Bollmann.
Kayla Manuirirangi, Emily Monaghan, Shanique Lucas, Azure Anderson, Olivia Williams, Sienna Maurice and Areta Kahura form the Rapid League group and are all available.
Whai will start Emme Shearer, Laina Snyder, Ashlee Strawbridge, Nicolette Gilday and Patricia Brossmann.
Eva Langton, Carla Pitman, Carly Ohia, Sophie Rogers, Emilee Tahata, Charis Broughton and Shamar Broughton make up the Rapid League group.
Whai moved to 3-1 after surviving another tight finish on the road in Porirua.
The Queens started strongly and took a narrow 38-36 lead into halftime, with Charlisse Leger-Walker, Taylor Mikesell and Hailey Van Lith providing the bulk of the offensive damage.
But the Whai would continue to chip away.
Shearer opened the second half aggressively, while Snyder and Brossmann helped establish control inside. Whai edged ahead 63-61 entering the fourth before the teams traded the lead throughout the final period.
The scores were level at 70 with five minutes remaining, but Whai executed better down the stretch and eventually secured the five-point victory.
Shearer led the scoring with 22 points, while Snyder added 19 points, 12 rebounds and four assists.
Brossmann had a huge impact around the basket, finishing with 14 points and 16 rebounds as Whai won another close road game.
Leading Players
Whai: Emme Shearer (22P, 5R, 3A), Laina Snyder (19P, 12R, 4A), Patty Brossmann (14P, 16R, 2A)
Queens: Charlisse Leger-Walker (31P, 8R, 4A), Taylor Mikesell (23P, 6R), Jacinta Monroe (12P, 8R)
Kāhu produced their best offensive performance of the season but could not quite finish the job against Pouākai.
The game was a shootout from the opening quarter.
Pouākai led 31-28 after one before Kāhu responded to tie the game at 48 at halftime.
The contest remained tight throughout the third, with Mainland carrying just a 68-67 advantage into the final period.
Mullings was outstanding for Kāhu, attacking the paint and finishing with 25 points on 9-of-12 shooting.
Bollmann again contributed across the stat sheet, while Brugler added 17 points and seven rebounds.
Kāhu repeatedly reduced the deficit to a single possession late, but Pouākai maintained their composure from the free-throw line and closed out the seven-point win.
Leading Players
Kāhu: Megan Mullings (25P, 1R, 2A), Talya Brugler (17P, 7R, 1A), Erin Bollmann (15P, 7R, 9A)
Pouākai: Morgan Yaeger (26P, 6R, 7A), Mikayla Pivec (15P, 12R, 5A), McKenna Dale (11P, 6R, 2A)
Whai took the opening meeting of the season 81-60 in Tauranga, using a series of strong closing runs to repeatedly shut down Kāhu comeback attempts.
The home side made the better start, with Emme Shearer and Nici Gilday connecting from deep to help Whai build a 19-11 advantage late in the opening quarter.
Kāhu continued to fight their way back into the contest. Each time Northern began a quarter with defensive stops and a scoring run, Whai responded by regaining control and stretching the margin again. The game was still within reach midway through the fourth quarter before Shearer took over.
The Whai captain delivered the standout performance of the night, finishing with 25 points, six assists, two steals and two blocks while knocking down five three-pointers.
Carla Pitman provided a major lift from the bench with 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Gilday added 12 points.
For Kāhu, Erin Bollmann led the way with 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Talya Brugler added 11 points and seven rebounds, while Tayla Dalton finished with nine points and four assists.
Whai eventually pulled away to complete a 21-point opening-night victory, but Kāhu will arrive at the rematch having shown considerably more offensive firepower over the rounds since.
Leading Players
Whai: Emme Shearer (25P, 2R, 6A, 2S, 2B, 5 3PM), Carla Pitman (17P, 7R, 5A), Nici Gilday (12P)
Kāhu: Erin Bollmann (18P, 7R, 4A, 2B), Talya Brugler (11P, 7R, 3A, 2S), Tayla Dalton (9P, 2R, 4A, 2S)
This is the biggest question heading into Sunday.
Kāhu average 72.0 points per game, which ranks last in Tauihi, but that season figure hides a significant upward trend.
They scored 60 against Whai in Round One.
Last weekend they scored 87 against the league’s top-scoring Pouākai side.
Mullings was a major reason for that jump, producing 25 points on 75 percent shooting. Bollmann added 15 points and nine assists, while Brugler scored 17.
The Kāhu shot 49 percent from the field and made 10 threes in that game.
Whai represent a much tougher defensive test.
They lead Tauihi in scoring defence at 71.0 points allowed per game and hold opponents to 39 percent shooting.
If Kāhu can maintain the quality of offence they showed against Pouākai, Sunday becomes a much more intriguing contest than their opening-night meeting.
Laina Snyder and Patty Brossmann were enormous against the Queens.
They combined for 33 points and 28 rebounds, with Snyder producing her third consecutive double-digit rebounding game.
Snyder now averages 15.0 points and a league-leading 12.3 rebounds, while Brossmann has lifted her season averages to 11.0 points and 8.5 rebounds.
Kāhu have size of their own.
Brugler averages 14.3 points and 7.3 rebounds, while Mullings is coming off her best offensive performance of the season.
The battle inside will go well beyond scoring.
Whai currently hold a +5.0 rebounding margin, while Kāhu sit at -4.5. If the Kāhu can't turn defensive stops into finished possessions then the defending champs will be able to control the game, if the home team can control the possesion battle on the glass then win number two will be in their reach.
Bollmann remains central to everything Kāhu do.
She is averaging 14.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and six assists, while also leading the team defensively with 11 steals and eight blocks through four games.
Her nine assists against Pouākai showed how dangerous Kāhu can become when she creates for others rather than needing to carry the scoring load herself.
That may be particularly important against Whai.
The defending champions are comfortable defending one-on-one matchups and have consistently kept opponents out of rhythm.
Bollmann’s ability to attack, draw help and create the next pass gives Kāhu one of their best routes to breaking that structure down.
Shearer has been one of the competition’s most consistent scorers.
She is averaging 20.5 points per game, third-best in Tauihi, while shooting 48 percent from the field and 44 percent from three.
Her opening-night performance against Kāhu remains one of her best.
She scored 25 points and hit five threes as Whai pulled away.
But Shearer is now creating damage in different ways.
Against the Queens she scored 22 while hitting four threes and attacking effectively inside the arc.
Kāhu need to make every touch difficult without opening too much space for Snyder and Brossmann inside.
Whai arrive to play in West Auckland less than 48 hours after Friday night’s game in Porirua.
That creates another layer to the matchup.
Their starting group carried significant minutes against the Queens, with Snyder playing nearly 36 minutes, Shearer more than 34 and Brossmann more than 33.
Kāhu, by contrast, enter after a full week between games.
That could make pace important.
Northern may look to run whenever possible, test Whai’s legs and make the defending champions defend multiple actions rather than allowing them to settle into the half court.
Two of the competition’s most influential perimeter players.
Bollmann impacts every area of the game, averaging 14.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and six assists while providing elite defensive versatility.
Shearer enters averaging 20.5 points and has scored at least 19 in three of Whai’s four games.
If Bollmann can Shearer work while still carrying a significant offensive role the Kāhu may be able to limit her late. If not Shearer could be in for another big day.
This is a major frontcourt battle.
Brugler averages 14.3 points and 7.3 rebounds, while Snyder is at 15.0 points and a league-leading 12.3 boards.
Snyder has been especially strong on the defensive glass, while Brugler has consistently drawn fouls and generated free throws for Kāhu.
If Brugler can compete physically without getting into foul trouble the Kāhu should stay strong on the interior, but if the whistle finds her early than Snyder and co. will have free range down low.
Both enter this conest after big performances last time out.
Mullings scored 25 against Pouākai and showed just how damaging she can be when she establishes position early.
Brossmann responded on Friday with 14 points and 16 rebounds against the Queens.
The player that can take the upper hand in this contest will give their team an edge that may lead to a win.
| Category | Kāhu | Whai |
|---|---|---|
| Points | Erin Bollmann/Talya Brugler, 14.3 | Emme Shearer, 20.5 |
| Rebounds | Talya Brugler, 7.3 | Laina Snyder, 12.3 |
| Assists | Erin Bollmann, 6.0 | Nicci Gilday, 4.8 |
| Steals | Erin Bollmann, 2.8 | Laina Snyder, 2.5 |
| Blocks | Erin Bollmann, 2.0 | Laina Snyder, 1.0 |
| FG% | Kayla Manuirirangi, 57% | Carla Pitman, 50% |
| 3P% | Kayla Manuirirangi, 56% | Ashlee Strawbridge, 60% |
| 3PM | Kayla Manuirirangi, 1.3 pg | Emme Shearer, 2.5 pg |
| Category | Kāhu | Whai |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 1-3 | 3-1 |
| Points | 72.0, 5th | 76.5, T-3rd |
| Points Allowed | 80.5, 3rd | 71.0, 1st |
| Scoring Margin | -8.5, 4th | +5.5, 2nd |
| FG% | 38%, 5th | 43%, 2nd |
| Defensive FG% | 44%, 4th | 39%, 1st |
| 3P% | 27%, 5th | 35%, 1st |
| Defensive 3P% | 34%, 5th | 26%, 1st |
| FT% | 74%, 4th | 77%, T-1st |
| Rebounding Margin | -4.5, 4th | +5.0, 2nd |
| Assists | 18.0, 5th | 20.3, 3rd |
| Turnover Margin | +0.5, 3rd | -4.8, 5th |
| Steals | 10.3, 2nd | 9.0, 4th |
| Blocks | 3.8 pg, t-2nd | 3.8 pg, t-2nd |
Whai have been more efficient offensively and own the league’s best scoring and field-goal defence.
Kāhu’s strongest route into the game is likely through pressure.
Northern rank second in steals and hold a positive turnover margin, while Whai sit last in turnover margin after averaging 17.3 giveaways per game.
If Kāhu can turn that pressure into transition offence, they can create the extra possessions needed to challenge the defending champions.
The Rapid League matchup pits the competition’s only unbeaten team against a Whai group that has climbed back to .500.
Kāhu are a perfect 4-0 and have been dominant at both ends.
They lead Rapid League in scoring at 39.0 points per game and defence at just 22.3 points allowed, giving them an extraordinary +16.8 scoring margin.
Whai sit at 2-2 after beating the Queens on Friday and average 29.3 points while allowing 31.5.
The teams also present a fascinating contrast in possession.
Kāhu lead Rapid League with a +5.5 turnover margin and average 8.5 steals per game, while Whai are last at -3.0 in turnover margin.
Whai counter with the league’s best rebounding profile at +7.8 per game.
For Kāhu, Shanique Lucas is averaging eight points while shooting 60 percent from three, while Sienna Maurice sits at 8.3 points per game.
For Whai, Shamar Broughton leads the current group at eight points per game, while Eva Langton is averaging 7.8 and shooting 58 percent from the field.
The Kāhu want pressure and pace while the Whai want to control the boards and prevent their own mistakes from turning into easy points.
Laina Snyder reached a major career milestone on Friday night.
Her 19 points against the Queens took her to 614 career Tauihi points, making her the fourth player to pass 600.
She also continues to climb the all-time rebounding list and enters Sunday with 49 rebounds through four games this season alone.
For Kāhu, Azure Anderson has already made Rapid League history this season as the first player to reach 200 career points in the competition.
Whai enter Sunday with momentum, confidence and a 3-1 record.
They have won three of their first four, own the competition’s best defence and continue to find different ways to close games.
Shearer is scoring at an elite level, Snyder has been dominant on the glass, Brossmann is coming off a 16-rebound performance and Gilday continues to control the offence.
But this Kāhu team looks different from the one Whai beat by 21 points on opening night.
Northern scored 87 against Pouākai, Mullings produced a breakout offensive performance, Bollmann continues to influence every area of the game and the pieces around them are beginning to settle.
The question is whether that improvement is enough to turn the first meeting on its head.
Whai have the form.
Kāhu have the rest advantage, the home floor and an opportunity to show just how much they have grown since Round One.
