Italy hasn't had much luck against Frost recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Italy Gladiators will welcome the Frost Polar Bears at 6:30 p.m. Both come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
If Italy beats Frost with 42 points on Friday, it's going to be the squad's new lucky number: they've won their past two matches with that exact score. Italy strolled past Dawson with points to spare on Tuesday, taking the game 42-24. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Gladiators.
Italy's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Hannah Scott, who posted seven points and seven boards. Another player making a difference was Arhiana Johnson, who had nine points.
Italy smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 11 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive boards in seven consecutive games.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Frost). They claimed a resounding 80-23 victory over Hubbard. The Polar Bears have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won 13 contests by 20 points or more this season.
Italy better keep an eye on Brenda Manrriquez. She was instrumental in Frost's win, almost dropping a double-double on 24 points and nine steals. Manrriquez's evening made it nine games in a row in which she has scored at least ten points. The team also got some help courtesy of Brynna Banks, who went 5 for 10 en route to 13 points in addition to seven rebounds and six steals.
Italy is on a roll lately: they've won five of their last six matches, which provided a nice bump to their 15-8 record this season. Those victories came thanks to their defensive effort, having only surrendered 24.8 points per game. As for Frost, the win was the fourth in a row for them, bringing their record for this year to 19-8.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Italy has been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 39.8 boards per game. However, it's not like Frost struggles in that department as they've been averaging 39.8 rebounds. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.
Italy suffered a grim 53-27 defeat to Frost when the teams last played back in December of 2024. Will Italy have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other basketball content.
