Eagles Recap | Round 9 Women

Image credit: Mark Filpo (@codexdesignstudio)

The first double-header of the season for the East Perth Eagles women saw them do plenty right against the Perth Redbacks on Friday night before a dominant Sunday performance with their full depth on show.

The Eagles came into the Round 9 double-header sitting in second position on the NBL1 West standings having won six of seven matches and then the one defeat was at the buzzer to the Warwick Senators.

The Eagles then did plenty right on Friday night against the Perth Redbacks at Belmont Oasis before the home team eventually prevailed 95-78 but East Perth hit back emphatically on Sunday at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre winning 97-64.

That leaves the Eagles now sitting in third position by the end of Round 9 with a 7-2 record with a clash to come this Saturday against the second placed Warwick Senators at Warwick Stadium.

EAGLES RD 9 PREVIEW | FRIDAY, SUNDAY DOUBLE

EAGLES TAKE LESSONS EVEN WHILE WINNING

FRIDAY

Both the Eagles and Redbacks arrived at Belmont Oasis for the Friday night in impressive form and both sitting inside the top four setting the stage for what would be a fascinating match up with no shortage of top level talent on either side.

The Redbacks did manage to open up a 10-point lead in the first quarter but by quarter-time the Eagles had that deficit back to just the six points despite going 1/9 from behind the three-point line to the 5/8 from Perth.

The Eagles were able to take control of the contest in the second quarter with 28 points to 15 on the back of shooting 12/23 from the floor and holding the Redbacks to 6/16 shooting and without a free-throw.

East Perth had gone on a 17-0 scoring run to lead by as much as 13 points and to still be on top 48-41 at the half-time break before still maintaining the seven-point lead by three quarter-time.

It had been a strong showing away from home up to that point from the Eagles but the fourth quarter didn’t go to plan with the Redbacks outscoring them 33 points to nine including going on a 16-0 run.

That saw the Redbacks end up winning by 17 points but there was still plenty of positives for the Eagles to take out of the contest as they turned their attention to hosting the Giants on Sunday.

Sasha Goodlett was once more a powerful presence inside for East Perth finishing with 27 points, 14 rebounds and five assists on 12/18 field goal shooting.

Madi Torresin added 16 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists, Awatea Leach 14 points, four rebounds and four assists, Abby Cubillo 11 points, seven assists and five boards, captain Tessa Morrison 11 points, seven assists and five rebounds, and Taylor Roberts four points, a steal and a block.

SUNDAY

Having regrouped from Friday night across Saturday, the Eagles turned up back home at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre on Sunday ready to take on the visiting Giants to wrap up Round 9.

While East Perth had also played that game against the Redbacks back on Friday night, the Giants opened their road double on Saturday night with a tough loss to the Warwick Senators at Herb Graham Recreation Centre.

East Perth made a strong start looking to consolidate a top four position by the end of the weekend by putting up 30 points to 19 in the first quarter on 12/20 shooting while holding Goldfields to shooting 5/18.

It was another 24 points to 13 from the Eagles in the second quarter and that saw them end up leading by as much as 23 points, and being on top 54-32 by the half-time break.

That lead continued to grow through the second half for East Perth with the lead 28 points in the third frame, and 36 in the fourth before they secured the 33-point victory.

The Eagles ended up shooting 51 per cent as a team to 32 from the Giants as they scored the win to improve to a 7-2 record to end their weekend splitting the double-header.

Sasha Goodlett once again led the charge in the win for East Perth with 20 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and two assists on 10/14 field goal shooting, but she had plenty of help.

Madi Torresin added 17 points and eight rebounds, Taylor Roberts 14 points, four boards and two assists on 4/6 three-point shooting, Awatea Leach 13 points, six rebounds and two steals, Abby Cubillo 10 points, nine boards, seven assists and two steals, and Tessa Morrison 10 points and three assists.

Akim Lual also ended up with four points, two rebounds and two assists, Samantha Flanagan two points after making her first field goal, Ari van Vliet two points, three assists and two boards, Jaymie Symons three points on a triple made, and Aleka Kabugua two points and an assist.