Hoiho hoping home advantage will help achieve maiden win

Home comforts should help the Southern Hoiho as they continue their pursuit of a maiden victory in Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa.

The Hoiho return to action in Dunedin for the first time in 12 days when they host the Tokomanawa Queens at the Edgar Centre tonight.

It is far too early to be talking about a wooden spoon game. Nevertheless, this clash between the 0-5 Hoiho and the 2-3 Queens could have major ramifications.

The Hoiho have had a couple of stinkers but otherwise have been perfectly competitive.

They have produced their best two efforts against the league-leading 5-0 Northern Kahu, losing by just five points last Friday after a four-point loss in the opening weekend.

Significantly, the southerners are also fresh off their best offensive performance of the season, putting up 76 points against the Kahu.

That hopefully suggests a turnaround for the Hoiho, who have league-worst per-game averages of 57 points — the other four teams are all running at over 70 — and 34.2% shooting.

Star forward Laina Snyder is doing her bit, leading the team in scoring (19.8 points), rebounds (9.6), assists (4.2) and steals (2.2), and coming off a 32-6-8 night against the Kahu.

But no other Hoiho player averages double digits in scoring, and Snyder will not be able to do it alone tonight.

The Queens, who started 2-1 before posting back-to-back losses to the Mainland Pouakai, bring defensive intensity, leading the league in steals with 10.5 per game.

They also pack a punch with Jaime Nared (17.3 points and seven rebounds per game), Elin Gustavsson (16.4 and 9.2), livewire Florencia Chagas (13.8 points and 4.6 assists) and Stella Beck (10.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists) all capable of racking up numbers.

The game tips off at 7pm.