North Spotlight | Bollmann lifts Phoenix over Force

Featured image: Judd Green

No more than seven points separated the teams all day but eight straight points from Erin Bollmann in the fourth quarter proved the difference as the Sunshine Coast Phoenix scored the 78-74 NBL1 North win over the Ipswich Force.

The two teams arrived at Caloundra Indoor Stadium to play their only games of the weekend and it was a tight contest all the way through.

The Phoenix did go up seven late in the third quarter only for the Force to hit back and be in front again midway through the fourth which is when Bollmann took charge starting with a four-point play before leading them to the eventual four-point victory.

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The win improves Sunshine Coast to a 3-3 record on the season in the NBL1 North while Ipswich are now 2-4 following the defeat.

Erin Bollmann had a huge afternoon for Sunshine Coast including the big efforts late to win the game and she finished with 34 points, eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals with 13/2 field goal shooting, 3/6 from deep and 5/6 at the charity stripe.

Isabel Palmer also provided 17 points and four rebounds, Maya Price 12 points, 11 boards, two assists and two steals, and Amy Browne five points and five rebounds.

Ipswich are now 2-4 following the loss despite plenty of encouraging signs with Emily Saunders leading the charge with 19 points, 14 rebounds, three steals and three blocks shots with 8/14 field goal shooting.

Olivia West added 16 points and six assists, Valerie Huerta 13 points, five rebounds and four assists, Georgia Ralph 12 points, seven boards, two assists and two steals, and Hannah Young four points and 11 rebounds.

Both teams were fresh in their lone appearance of the weekend and it was Ipswich with the better of the start to be leading 21-17 by quarter-time with Emily Saunders already having six points, three rebounds and two steals to her name.

Things remained tight throughout the second quarter too with no more than four points separating the teams with Sunshine Coast putting up 22 points to 19.

That saw Ipswich leading 40-39 heading into the half-time interval with Saunders up to 10 points and eight rebounds with Valerie Huerta providing 11 points while Isabel Palmer had 12 points for Sunshine Coast and Erin Bollmann 11.

Sunshine Coast were able to push out the biggest lead of the game with a seven-point advantage in the third term, but Ipswich hit back with a 9-0 run to be back in front themselves early in the fourth period.

From that point, Bollmann took over the contest and scored the next eight points for the Phoenix starting off with a four-point play and she led her team to the eventual four-point home victory.

Sunshine Coast remain at home on Saturday night against Logan Thunder while Ipswich play again next Sunday on the road to the South West Metro Pirates.

NBL1 NORTH 2026 SEASON | ROUND 6

SUNSHINE COAST PHOENIX 78 (Bollmann 34, Palmer 17, Price 12)

IPSWICH FORCE 74 (Saunders 19, West 16, Huerta 13)