The two senior teams from the Parramatta Basketball Association continue to struggle in this year's Waratah Championship League competition, with neither side able to overtly trouble their respective opponents in Wollongong on Saturday night.
Life has been more than difficult for the ninth-ranked Parramatta women, who entered the game with a 0-10 win-loss record, but full of hope of at least competing with the seventh-ranked Illawarra Lady Hawks (3-7), who were only three wins and two spots ahead of the Wildcats on the competition ladder.
Those hopes were dashed from the outset, with the home team taking total control from the opening whistle and eventually racing away to a crushing 91-17 win.
The Wildcats men were missing New Zealand import Tyrone Davey but rose to the occasion against last year's premiers in the first quarter, with both teams locked at 22-22 at the first break.
Wollongong Hawks NBL guard Tyson Demos led from the front in the second term, guiding Illawarra to a 44-35 lead at half-time and 65-57 at the end of the third term.
Parramatta would prove to be their own worst enemy during the game, with every good scoring run spoilt by unnecessary turnovers, giving the Hawks far too much latitude.
The home team dominated the final term to grab a 15-point win.
Wildcats head coach Merve Tait said: ''I thought we were in it (the game) for a while but turnovers killed us".
"We've been able to get close to the top teams this season but we continually commit unforced turnovers and ruin our own chances."
Both Parramatta teams have a bye this weekend, with the men hosting the Penrith Panthers at the Auburn Basketball Centre on July 14.
WOMEN: Illawarra Lady Hawks 91 (Cassandra Mangos 14 points, 11 boards; Tiarna Porter 10 points, 10 boards) def Parramatta Wildcats 17 (Amanda Mitchell 7 points) .
MEN: Illawarra Hawks 74 (Tyson Demos 42 points, Daniel Jackson 17, Zac Delaney 11, Troy Pilon 10 boards) def Parramatta Wildcats 79 (Goran Veg 19 points, 9 boards; Rory Sutton 11 points, 14 boards; Daniel Moser 10 points, Adi Causevic 10, Jamie Newth 8 points, 6 assists).