Both the Hornets men's and women's sides recorded CBL losses against Warrnambool on Saturday

It was a slow start that proved costly for the Hornets women against the Mermaids.

The Mermaids scored 18-points in the first quarter and restricted the Hornets to just nine.

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However, the second quarter was a different story as the visitors turned it on to outscore the Mermaids 15-14.

After the drop-off, the home side started nailing their shots again.

Nonetheless, the Hornets weren't going to back down and pushed them all the way.

Despite a valiant effort from the Hornets, the Mermaids ultimately outscored the Hornets 37-30 over the final two terms.

The final score read 69-54 and leaves the Hornets with one win and two losses from their first three games.

Ema Iredell was crucial for the Hornets, top-scoring with 20-points, while Faith McKenzie chipped in with 12.

The men's Hornets had an agonising one-point loss to the Seahawks earlier that day.

Aiming for their first win of the season, the Hornets started nicely but couldn't match the Seahawks on the scoreboard trailing 24-18 at the first break.

In the second quarter, the visitors started to find their groove, to narrow the margin to just four points (46-42).

Unfortunately, the third quarter proved costly as the Seahawks piled on 24 points to the Hornets 19, leaving the visitors with work to do in the last term.

A substantial final quarter comeback had the Hornets within touching distance of the win.

However, it ultimately proved a bridge too far as the Seahawks walked away with the victory by the barest of margins.

In the final quarter, the Hornets outscored the Seahawks 22-14 and was undoubtedly a lesson into what they are capable of this season.

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Speaking to The Wimmera Mail-Times the following day, Hornets coach Scott Benbow said the loss was "tough".

"We were in the game for most of it," Benbow said.

"We had three or four minutes in the third quarter where we just didn't play our best, and they scored on every opportunity we turned it over.

"We were 14-points down with three minutes to go, and we got done by a point, so really happy with the effort to get back into it.

"We're just going to have to tighten up, we can only use the excuse that we're young for a little while. We're good basketballers, we've just got to show it."

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