Monday 23 May 2022
In its first full season, UniSport Australia will crown the inaugural champions of the University Basketball League Australia (UBL) on Tuesday and Wednesday.
After an interrupted 2021 season where the finals were delayed and then cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, 2022 has seen the UBL competition expand to include 11 universities play 110 games across five states through the regular season.
The scene is now set for the most highly anticipated games this season with undefeated teams La Trobe University (women) and The University of Sydney (men) will go into their respective grand finals as favourites. Standing in their way are second seeds, The University of Sydney (women) and University of Technology Sydney (men).
La Trobe University women go into the Grand Final undefeated. Image credit: Grant Treeby
La Trobe University (LTU) will host the women’s Grand Final on Tuesday 24 May at 2pm facing the strong The University of Sydney (USYD) outfit who finished the regular season with 8 wins and 2 losses. Having now played 11 games undefeated the LTU outfit knows how to win, but it will be a tough game.
The two teams met at the beginning of May, where the Victorians won comfortably against USYD 75-49, however the Sydney women are coming off a gritty win against Victoria University to make the final. For the visitors, Carla Pitman (Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science) will need to continue her great form of the season. Pitman netted 141 points this season, averaging 12 points per game.
The University of Sydney women celebrate their semi-final victory against Victoria University. Image credit: Grant Treeby
As they have done all season, LTU will look for a complete team performance from their squad. Leading point scorer Anna Burrows (Bachelor of Commerce/Science) will again look to lead the team in the grand final, but all players will need to step up for LTU if they are going to lift the trophy in front of their home crowd.
Excitement then turns to the USYD v University of Technology Sydney (UTS) match up at 2pm on Wednesday. The two teams played in the first game of the season, with USYD 3-point winners, 82-79.
The University of Sydney's #10 Ignatius Mitchell. Image credit: Grant Treeby
The USYD team have been impressive in all facets of the game the entire season. Led by Ignatius Mitchell (Bachelor of Economics/Advanced Studies) and Joshua Pain (Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science), the Sydney outfit go deep into their bench.
Matthew Wacher (Bachelor of Commerce/Engineering) has also made an outstanding contribution this season. USYD reach the grand final after being pushed by LTU Men in the semi-final last week.
Mitchell, Pain and Wacher combined for 62 points in the semi-final last week and will need to bring their best game if they are to overcome cross town rivals, UTS.
University of Technology Sydney player #7 Alex Higgins-Titsha. Image credit: Grant Treeby
UTS, led by Archer Woodhill (Bachelor of Property Economics) and Alex Higgins -Titsha (Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Management) combining for 259 points. Woodhill has had a stellar season with a 53.54 field goal percentage.
Higgins–Titsha averages over 14 points per game and is the leading scorer in the team. After a convincing victory over Victoria University in the semi-final, UTS are looking to avenge their only defeat of the season with a win against USYD in the final.
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