The Penrith Panthers senior basketball teams were on the road to the Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre on Saturday, in round 18 of the 2015 Waratah Championship League competition.
It would be a cruel road trip, with both Penrith teams short on numbers and succumbing to big losses.
The Penrith women were still missing four players this week (including Springwood's Dominka Offner) but welcomed back Chantyl Szostak from injury.
A poor first half saw the Panthers trail 28-12 in the first break, but their fortunes swung back heavily in their favour in the second term, resulting in a 39-38 lead at half time.
The Panthers could not maintain that form in the second half, trailing 62-54 at the end of the third term before falling 90-64.
Alicia Poto led the Panthers with 17 points, 11 boards and 9 assists, ahead of Tylah Mundine 16 points, and rookie Natalia Beaumont 10 points, 8 boards and 5 blocked shots.
Penrith were missing three key players in the men's game (Ben Kearins, Svetomir Gavrilovic and Nic Pozoglou) and had little answers to the imposing depth of the Sea Eagles squad.
Manly Warringah jumped out to a commanding 31-6 in the first quarter, 48-26 at half time and 71-43 at the end of the third term, before cruising home to an 89-60 win.
Only three Penrith players hit double figures, led by Noah Cleur with 13 points, Louis Brandt (Springwood) 11 and Krenz Carlos 10, while Jarrod Sorenson (Springwood) had 7 points and 11 boards.
The Penrith men host the Maitland Mustangs at the Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre at 2.30pm this Sunday.