Melbourne Tigers (W) 72 – 79 Eltham Wildcats Women
NBL1 South | July 18, 2026

Eltham Wildcats Women erased a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun the Melbourne Tigers 79-72 on the road, snapping a three-game losing streak and breathing life into their playoff push.

Match Overview

The Tigers controlled the first half behind sharp three-point shooting, leading 42-34 at the break. Melbourne extended the margin to 62-52 by the end of the third quarter. But Eltham turned the game around with a relentless defensive press and hot hand from beyond the arc.

Key Moment

Down 70-66 with 4:15 to play, Eltham guard Mia Reynolds (22 points, 5 assists) connected on back-to-back triples to give the Wildcats a 72-70 lead. After a Tigers turnover, forward Brooke Anderson (18 points, 10 rebounds) added a putback, and Eltham’s lead grew to six. Melbourne never got closer than three points in the final minute.

Tactical Story

Eltham switched to a full-court trap in the fourth quarter, forcing nine Melbourne turnovers in the period. The Tigers shot just 4-of-16 from the field in the final frame. Melbourne’s star centre Olivia Chen (24 points, 12 rebounds) was dominant inside but received little help as the guards combined for only 12 points on 4-of-18 shooting.

Season Impact

Eltham improves to 8-11, moving into a tie for eighth place and within striking distance of the final playoff spot. Melbourne falls to 11-8, dropping from third to fifth as they lose momentum heading into a tough stretch against top-four teams.