It was the women who got the show started going up against a sixth placed Canberra team looking to steal the Crusaders’ position on the ladder. The first quarter was neck and neck with Canberra taking an early 3-point lead but it was the Crusaders who made an early push to nick this game away from home. Going into halftime with a comfortable lead, the Crusaders never looked back with all starters in double digits as they cruised to a 88-66 win much to the dismay of the home crowd.
The men’s game was up next as we enter do or die territory in the season. The Crusaders were unfortunately unable to get it done against the Centre of Excellence on the road. Despite Robbie Heath continuing his streak of 30+ point games, the Crusaders went down 96-89.
A pit stop in Bankstown on the way home to take on the Bruins saw the women up first and once again they got it done but this time in a much more dramatic fashion. The game came down to the wire despite the Crusaders taking an early lead over the Bruins. Inspired by Jihun Park’s 25-point performance, the Bruins made a late push in the fourth quarter coming as close as within three points, but the Crusaders managed to hold them off to close the game out 81-87.
All five starters once again finished the game in double digits. The men were up next debuting a late addition to the squad in new starting center Ben Stevens. The big man was able to put up a 14-point 14-rebound double-double but the Crusaders were yet again unable to get t.