The UWA Maali faced two competitive opponents in Round 2 of the 2026 New Balance University Basketball League (UBL), hosting Federation University and the University of Melbourne at the UWA Fitness and Recreation Centre on Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 August.
The double-header also featured Indigenous Round and Pride Round, providing opportunities to celebrate culture, inclusion and the role of sport in bringing the UWA community together.
Wednesday’s Indigenous Round opened with a Welcome to Country and a half-time performance from Alton Walley and the Middar Dance Group.
UWA Maaliwah Indigenous Nationals athletes were also involved throughout the day, engaging with spectators through face and body painting, shooting competitions and courtside commentary.
The home crowd was also introduced to Maali Spirit, UWA’s new poms dance team, which made its inaugural performance during the evening and added to the atmosphere throughout the double-header.
The men’s team made a strong start against Federation University, controlling much of the opening half before the game was level at three-quarter time. The Fed Falcons then produced a strong final quarter, outscoring the Maali by eight points to secure an 82-74 win.
Lachlan Oakley led the scoring for UWA with 20 points, including four three-pointers, while Keegan Schrick recorded an impressive 15 points and 15 rebounds, alongside four assists and a steal. Kaden Morcombe and Damien Zhang also made strong contributions, both finishing just short of double-doubles.
The women’s game was another closely contested battle, with UWA narrowly missing out on its first win of the season after going down 66-64.
Nicola Moore provided a late spark for the Maali, hitting a three-pointer in the final stages of the game. She finished with 21 points, seven rebounds, a steal and a block, while Keisha Chng and Grace Conradt also made valuable contributions.
Thursday’s Pride Round celebrated LGBTQIA+ inclusion in sport, with the UWA Maali again involved in two closely fought contests against the University of Melbourne.
The women’s game featured 26 lead changes as both teams remained within reach throughout the contest. Despite another late push from the Maali, Melbourne secured a narrow 62-60 victory.
Abbey Hall led the UWA scoring with 16 points and nine rebounds, continuing her strong start to the 2026 UBL season.
The men’s team faced an early challenge from Melbourne, with the visitors establishing an 18-30 lead during the second quarter. UWA responded before half-time and continued to compete after the break, but Melbourne maintained its advantage to record an 82-64 win.
Schrick continued his strong individual form, finishing with 26 points and 16 rebounds.
The two home rounds provided valuable opportunities for the UWA Maali squads to compete against some of the UBL’s strongest university teams, while showcasing representative sport to the wider UWA community.
Both teams will now use their bye week to reset before returning to the court against the reigning UBL champions, the University of Tasmania, on Wednesday 2 September at the UWA Fitness and Recreation Centre.
Admission is free, with students and supporters encouraged to attend and support the UWA Maali.
For the full UWA Maali fixture, visit the UWA Sport website. For more information about the UBL competition, visit UniSport Australia and watch game replays on UniSportTV.