BA CoE Crushes Bankstown with Dominant Defence

BA CoE defeated Bankstown 86-61 on Sunday at Bankstown Basketball Stadium, dominating from early in the contest. The Centre of Excellence squad controlled the game with strong inside presence, outrebounding Bankstown 53-42 and generating 23 offensive boards to the home team's 12. Isabel Smith led the way with 16 points while Jade Crook posted a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Zara Russell added 14 points including four triples from beyond the arc. BA CoE's defence proved disruptive, forcing 27 turnovers and converting them into 15 points. For Bankstown, the Dunlop sisters provided most of the offensive production with Jane scoring 16 points and Shalome adding 14. Sienna Tutani recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards, but the team struggled from the field, shooting just 33.9 percent compared to the visitors' 40.3 percent. The squad was particularly hampered by turnovers, giving up the ball 27 times against BA CoE's swarming defence. **BA COE 86 (Isabel Smith 16, Jade Crook 14, Zara Russell 14).** **BANKSTOWN 61 (Jane Dunlop 16, Shalome Dunlop 14, Sienna Tutani 10).** #NBL1East #BasketballAustralia