UWA Maali hosted back-to-back basketball games against Federation University and The University of Melbourne on Tuesday 9 April and Wednesday 10 April 2024.

After a tough start to the season, UWA Maali have shifted into a higher gear with an elevated performance over the week.  The night-time game against Fed Falcons saw a large crowd of supporters cheering UWA against the Ballarat based team.

The Maali men entered the game knowing a win was needed to keep its season alive. The young side were ruthless against Fed Falcons dominating its opponents with a commanding margin 99-71. Key players that were instrumental in the win include Ben Thorp, Blake Costello and Korede Oyemade. Thorp was a vital playmaker in the attack end, crafting set plays and driving hard to the paint. Oyemade was a strong body under the ring, bolstering the attack end in rebounds and a powerful target in the key.

The women’s team clawed back a large deficit in the first half to bring back the margin to 1 point in the last few minutes of the game. UWA Maali were chasing Fed Falcons until the very end but were unsuccessful in clipping the wings of the Falcons, losing 67-76 at the final whistle.

There was a short turnaround for each side to regroup before the game against The University of Melbourne the next day. The men’s team were prepared for a battle against the reigning champions and were in the contest for the entire game, ultimately overpowering their opponent.  UWA Maali defeated The University of Melbourne 81-78 for the first time since the inception of the league. The introduction of Kyiah O’Donohue into the team saw the attack end bolstered by his experience on court.

"We also saw the return of Kyiah O’Donohue to the line-up who bolstered our attacking prowess."

UWA Maali Men's Head Coach, Jackson Mews

Joe Harwood also played a key role in the historic win over the Melbourne-based team. Harwood’s ability to provide grit on defence and craft decisive movements in attack helped the team build a strong scoreline against a quality side.

The women’s team were able to produce a strong second half in their game against The University of Melbourne with Abbey Hall and Jessica Taylor assisting the team to score 48 points in the game. The attacking finesse of the Melbourne side saw them defeat UWA Maali 65-48.

"We had some improvements in key areas that we will look to carry forward into the next game against a tough Tasmania team. It was great to get some game time into our newer players and hopefully we can continue our development and push for our first win."

UWA Maali Women's Head Coach, Matt Mercer

UWA Maali will go back to the drawing board and recollect for the next home game against The University of Tasmania on Tuesday 16 April.

For more information on the UBL competition, visit UniSport and watch replays on UniSport TV.