The Dubbo Rams have continued their stellar start to the Waratah State League with a nail-biting 93-80 loss to the Tamworth Thunderbolts on Saturday.
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Crowds packed the grandstand at Dubbo Sportsworld for the women's first home game since 2012, and captain Cara Gordon admitted the nerves were high.
"Everyone was pleasantly surprised with how many people turned up and how they got behind the women," Gordon said.
"It was a really, really good atmosphere which was good to play in."
The Rams got off to a fiery start, leading 7-2 after just three minutes before the Thunderbolts struck to pinch the 18-16 lead in the dying seconds of the first quarter.
The Rams trailed 40-38 at half-time but pegged the gap back to 63-63 at the final break.
It remained neck-and-neck until, with less than three minutes remaining in the game, back-to-back two-pointers from Tamworth's Emily Tudman and Samantha Schuberth swung the momentum in their favour.
The Rams' offence was stagnant at times, Gordon admitted, with their defence sometimes lacking.
Young guns Demi Wilson, Tori Monk and Abbie Merritt all shone in their first state league appearance at home.
Wilson scored a stunning 20 points for the game, second only to the Rams' American import Faatimah A (22).
Abbie Merritt slotted an impressive four three-pointers to record 12 points for the game.
"Demi is a guard so her shooting and ball skills were good, and then Tori played really good defence," Gordon enthused.
"Abbie is a strong player at both ends of the court."
Gordon was confident that as the side gelled more - Saturday's was only their second game together since 2012 - the results would follow.
She even tipped they could be more competitive in 2019 than in previous seasons - despite the seven year hiatus.
"It's just a really good bunch of girls," she said.
"Everyone is there to play and everyone wants to win and we want to play as a team."
The confidence is no doubt boosted by the addition of the Rams women's first ever import in Faatimah A, the livewire guard from California.
Faatimah has brought a wealth of knowledge to the side, but winning is not the only goal.
It's also hoped Faatimah can help inspire more young girls to stick with the sport and, in doing so, secure the future of the Dubbo Rams women - and the game itself.
"That's the whole reason why we're done it this year, because we haven't done it for so many years," Gordon said.
"Monique [Wilson, Demi's mum] and I put our heads together and said, 'you know what? We need to do this for the young girls coming through'.
"I coach the under 16 girls rep side as well and they train with us on a Wednesday night and it's good for them to learn on the run, playing with some older women."
The Rams take to the road again this Saturday to take on the Coffs Harbour Suns.
