North Wrap | Women's Round 4

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The Northside Wizards handed the Southern Districts Spartans a first loss of NBL1 North season while Mia Loyd starred again to keep Cairns Dolphins unbeaten while Mackay Meteorettes made it three straight and Leah Scott lifted Logan Thunder.

>> NORTH SPOTLIGHT | CAPS HIT BACK TO WIN IN ROCKHAMPTON

>> NORTH SPOTLIGHT | LOYD ENSURES DOLPHINS STAY UNBEATEN

>> NORTH SPOTLIGHT | UNBEATEN SPARTANS CRUSH WINLESS PIRATES

FRIDAY

South West Metro Pirates (53) lost to Southern Districts Spartans (82)

The Southern Districts Spartans scored 21 of the first 25 points and retained control from there to stay unbeaten this season and to keep the South West Metro Pirates winless with the 82-53 victory.

The two teams came into the Friday night match up at Hibiscus Sports Stadium in totally contrasting form with the Pirates still chasing a first win after a tough finish to 2025 as well while the Spartans are yet to lose in 2026 after a heartbreaking Grand Final series loss last year.

Southern Districts dominated the game from the outset to lead 21-4 late in the first quarter and ending up holding South West Metro to just seven points on 2/17 shooting in the opening term.

That set the tone for the rest of the evening with the Spartans going on to win by 29 points and improve to 5-0 on the season as a result with the Pirates now 0-4 in what was their first home appearance of 2026.

Abby Solway finished with 19 points and four assists for Southern Districts, Hayley McDowell-White 15 points on 3/5 three-point shooting, and Kalani Purcell 13 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals with 10 of her points in the opening term.

Jess McDowell-White also had 10 points, six rebounds and five assists, Paige Bayliss eight points and four boards, Karli Derksen seven points and three rebounds, and Emily Preston six points, eight boards, three assists and two blocked shots.

Hannah Simental had 10 points to half-time and finished with 12 for the Pirates while Jovana Ilic added nine points and nine rebounds while hitting her only three-point attempt.

Alana Fraser also had seven points and two assists, and Charlotte Whittaker seven points, 12 rebounds and five assists.

SATURDAY

Ipswich Force (72) lost to Logan Thunder (80)

Logan Thunder came from behind at three quarter-time and with Leah Scott leading the way they avoided a second straight loss by beating the Ipswich Force 80-72.

The Thunder were back home at Ipswich Basketball Stadium looking to avoid a third straight defeat with Logan also trying to bounce back from a loss to the Mackay Meteorettes.

Scores were all locked together by quarter-time before Logan did go up nine in the second term before Ipswich hit back with an 8-0 run and that helped them to the 39-36 lead by half-time.

Ipswich were still leading by two at three quarter-time and then by five early in the fourth, but Logan then took control and ended up with 24 points to 14 in the last term to turn that five-point deficit into the eight-point victory.

The Thunder are now 3-1 as a result with Leah Scott delivering 28 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals on 11/20 field goal shooting.

Mikhaela Cann added 16 points, eight assists, three rebounds and three steals, Maddy Allen 12 points, three boards and two assists, and Mya Moke 11 points and two steals.

Ipswich slip to 1-3 with the three straight defeats with Olivia West finishing with 22 points, six assists and four rebounds, Emily Saunders 12 points and five boards, and Valerie Huerta eight points, 12 rebounds, six assists and five steals.

Gold Coast Rollers (54) lost to Sunshine Coast Phoenix (74)

The Sunshine Coast Phoenix put in a dominant performance against the Gold Coast Rollers with Erin Bollmann and Isabel Palmer shining in the 74-54 road victory.

Gold Coast had won their past two games ahead of hosting the Phoenix at Carrara Indoor Sports Stadium but it was the visitors leading by three points at quarter-time.

It was just 23 combined points in the second term with Sunshine Coast clinging to the 31-29 half-time lead but in the second half they took over.

The Phoenix outscored the Rollers 21 points to 14 in the third period and 22 to 11 in the fourth to end up winning by 20 leaving both teams on 2-2 records as a result.

Isabel Palmer delivered 19 points, six rebounds and five assists in the win for Sunshine Coast with Erin Bollmann adding 18 points, 15 boards and four assists.

Emma Povh added nine points and two steals, Kayla Mathews nine points, two assists and two steals, and Maya Price six points, six rebounds and two assists.

Tara Manumaleuga finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals for Gold Coast with Ariana Moorer adding nine points and five boards, and Emma Petrie eight points, 10 rebounds and two assists.

Cairns Dolphins (92) defeated Townsville Flames (67)

Mia Loyd just missed another triple double but had a huge night as the Cairns Dolphins continued their hot start to the season remaining unbeaten with the 92-67 home win over the Townsville Flames.

The Dolphins were back home at Trinity Ford Stadium having won their opening four matches of the season including back in the opener in Townsville against the Flames by 32 points.

But the Flames have Courtney Woods and coach Shannon Seebohm back together since then and arrived on the back of a win against the South West Metro Pirates in their only appearance since that season-opener.

Cairns shot out of the blocks on their home floor with a 16-3 start and never looked back from there even though Townsville did come from 22 points down to be back within nine at three quarter-time.

But the Dolphins took charge again with 30 points to 14 in the last quarter to win by 25 and improve to a perfect 5-0 on the season with the Flames now 1-2.

It was a fifth straight commanding performance to open the season for Cairns with Mia Loyd only just missing out on another triple double with 27 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists with shooting 12/18 from the floor.

Brooke Basham had another 18 points, seven rebounds and two assists with Leichan Williams contributing 15 points and three boards, Teyla Evans nine points and seven rebounds, and Summah Evans eight points and three boards.

Courtney Woods did all she could to keep Townsville in the contest finishing with 36 points, 11 rebounds, five assist and four steals on 11/24 field goal shooting, 4/10 shooting from deep and going 10/13 at the foul line.

Mia Murray did knock down three of those other four three-pointers for nine points and three assists with Shaylee Browning contributing seven points and six rebounds, and Chailee Ward seven points, two boards and two assists.

Southern Districts Spartans (82) lost to Northside Wizards (86)

A massive late Nadeen Payne three-pointer and then some clutch free throws saw the Northside Wizards hand the Southern Districts Spartans a first loss of the season with the 86-82 win.

The Spartans had won their first five games of the season including on Friday night against the South West Metro Pirates ahead of hosting the Wizards at Rowland Cowan Stadium.

Northside came into the clash having split their opening two matches but they started on fire with 31 points to 23 in the quarter against the Grand Finalists of last year.

The Wizards were still leading 51-43 by half-time before Southern Districts hit back with an 11-0 run in the third quarter to grab the lead.

The scores were all level when Jess McDowell-White hit a three ball with just over two minutes to play before Payne responded for the Wizards to put them up three.

She would go on to hit a free-throw after a tech foul on Kalani Purcell before Kahlaijah Dean iced the win at the stripe for the Wizards as they hand a first loss to the Spartans and improve to 2-1.

Nes'eya Parker-Williams had another standout performance for the Wizards with 22 points, three rebounds and two assists with 4/8 three-point shooting.

Kahlaijah Dean also had 22 points, six assists and three rebounds while Kelsey Ransom added 12 points, two boards and two steals, Nadeen Payne 12 points and six rebounds on 3/5 shooting from deep, and Grace Ellis eight points, four boards, two assists and two steals.

Southern Districts are now 5-1 with Jess McDowell-White finishing with 24 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals on 5/9 shooting from beyond the arc.

Hayley McDowell-White also had 19 points, four rebounds and four assists, Abby Solway 16 points and two boards, and Kalani Purcell 13 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.

Mackay Meteorettes (111) defeated Brisbane Capitals (64)

The Mackay Meteorettes shared the load with six players scoring in double figures and they made it three straight with the 111-64 win at home against the Brisbane Capitals.

The Meteorettes were back home at Mackay Basketball Stadium to host the Caps and started on fire with 30 points to nine in the first quarter.

It was another 28 points to 19 in the second quarter from Mackay to see them on the way to leading 58-28 at half-time.

It was another 23 points to 16 in the third quarter from the Meteorettes before 30 to 20 in the last term on the way to the commanding 47-point win as they made it three in-a-row to improve to a 4-1 record.

River Baldwin top scored for Mackay with 20 points and five rebounds on 9/14 field goal shooting with Monique Bobongie contributing 17 points, seven boards, six assists and two steals, and Sammie Puisis 15 points, four assists and two rebounds.

Chelsea Brook added 14 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists, Eden Catip 13 points, two assists and two steals, and Ally Simpson 10 points and three rebounds.

Brisbane are now 1-4 following a third consecutive defeat with Alyssa Brown finishing with 29 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Tyla Stolberg added 11 points and eight rebounds, Ashley Harris eight points and six boards, and Rihanna Byrne eight points and three rebounds.

SUNDAY

Rockhampton Cyclones (58) lost to Brisbane Capitals (68)

The Brisbane Capitals put the clamps on the Rockhampton Cyclones and then withstood 26 points and 23 rebounds from Emily Kiser to end up splitting their road double this weekend with the 68-58 Sunday victory.

The Cyclones lost their first two games of the season to the Mackay Meteorettes and Southern Districts Spartans, but on Sunday played their first game since April 24 when they hosted the Capitals at Bravus Arena.

Meanwhile, the Caps had already played five matches for the season including losing in Mackay on Saturday by 47 points and they started strongly in response on Sunday holding Rockhampton to just eight points in the first quarter and 19 for the opening half.

That set up the Capitals for the eventual 10-point victory as they improve to 2-4 on the season with the Cyclones now winless after their opening three matches.

It was a tough offensive game for both teams but in the end Brisbane did shoot a little better going 35 per cent opposed to the 36 from Rockhampton which was the major difference in the end result.

Tyla Stolberg ended up top-scoring in the win for Brisbane with 22 points, six rebounds and five steals while shooting 9/18 from the floor and 4/5 at the foul line.

Alyssa Brown also produced 19 points, 16 rebounds and two steals with Ashley Harris contributing nine points, nine boards and two assists.

Emily Kiser had a huge afternoon in a losing effort for Rockhampton finishing with 26 points, 23 rebounds and three steals while playing all but 1:31 of the game.

Emily Tweedy did score nine points with two rebounds and two assists while Gracie Stugart contributed eight points, seven assists and five boards, and Akaysha Muggeridge seven points, four rebounds and three steals.