NBL1 Central Recap | Women's Round 17

In from the Coleman came the Flames: A huge final term from Molly Coleman of the Norwood Flames of 13 points was not enough for her team to clinch the win over the Forestville Eagles in one of the nights thrilling finishes  | Picture IT Sports Photography

Saturday 30/07/22

Norwood Flames vs Forestville Eagles

Flames in from the Coleman but can’t stop Eagles sensational swoop

It was all on the line at the Firedome as the Eagles swooped into steal a sensational 66-70 win off the Flames. The Eagles led a majority of the contest and with uttermost importance of a win for both sides, the away side capitalised on 16 turnovers to convert 12 points into their 0-12 run to lead 27-45 at the half. Lightning combo guard Brooke Basham after a very quiet first half burned brightly in the third with 11 points including a huge buzzer beater to full stop the stanza to bring it back to 49-57 at the final change. The Flames Molly Coleman also quiet continued the momentum surge against an Eagles team that got it done by committee with Coleman dropping 13 for the final quarter to finish with a game high 19 points and 6 rebounds. A Maddy Freer flying triple off the backboard gave the Eagles the huge win in the context of the season as they saved off the home side comeback. Freer finished with 15 points and 7 rebounds and Rachel Hines 16 points including four triples at 50 percent and 7 rebounds. Basham was one of two Flames to grab double doubles with her (14 points and 10 rebounds) and Alek Akuen (10 points and 11 rebounds) and Genna Anderson collected 16 rebounds to go with 7 points. In an unusual statistic there were 27 second chance points from 39 offensive rebounds in a game where taking your chances was the decider.

Sturt Sabres vs South Adelaide Panthers (Kayo Game of the Week)

Stirring Sabres victory secures second consecutive series 

The Sturt Sabres have secured a second consecutive finals appearance with a stirring win over the Panthers 78-70 at the Cave. The Sabres led by as many as 53-37 early in the third quarter before the away side launched an ambitious comeback to cut it back to 61-50 at the end of three. Captain Kayla Mathews was massive in the final quarter scoring 10 of her game high 21 points, 5 rebounds and steals to lead her side to the must win game and along with Mikayla Williams double double of 15 points and 11 rebounds was enormous when it counted. Panthers import Isa Osk Sigurdardottir proved her worth with one of her best outputs in the comeback with a double double of 16 points and 11 rebounds while former Sabres Jade Johnson got off the defensive clamps of her opponents to finish with her own of 15 points and 10 rebounds. The Sabres now hold 3^rd place and are tied on the split with the Panthers and now have a crucial must win against the Flames next week. The Panthers are in 4^th but a win over the Warriors will secure their spot in the top five.

West Adelaide Bearcats vs Eastern Mavericks

Bearcats twenty-point blitz silences resilient Mavs 

A huge blitz in the third quarter finally shook a resilient Eastern Mavericks 103-59 at the Bearcat Cave. The 20-0 run was engineered by the big three of Madelynn Utti with 22 points and 14 rebounds, Jennie Rintala with 25 points, 19 rebounds and 5 assists and Jasmin Fejo with 21 points and 6 assists. The Bearcats dominated the major numbers with 30-9 in assists and a whopping 56-36 in rebounding. Brigitte Lefebvre-Okankwu led the Mavs again with 17 points and 8 rebounds, Olivia Bradley chalked up 13 points and 7 rebounds and Oksana Gouchie-Provencher grabbed a double double of 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Southern Tigers vs Woodville Warriors

Tigers eat and stay alive with Warriors win

The Tigers took their cue and kept their season alive as they ate the Warriors alive after quarter time 102-54 at the Cage. Townsville Fire’s Morgan Yaeger was the catalyst with 27 points in one of her most imposing recent performances as the Tigers launched from long range to sink the Warriors with 13 of 32 triples and 41-25 in rebounding. Mollie McKendrick grabbed the Tigers only double double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 5 steals and Jaeydn De La Cerda and Demi Skinner both dropped 19 points each with Skinner dropping five triples at 50 percent from beyond the arc. Emily Winter had her third twenty plus contribution of the season with 22 points and 9 rebounds to lead the away side. The Tigers win puts them into 5^th spot with one round to go ahead of the Flames where a win next week could tie five teams all together with the Tigers holding splits over all except the Sabres and the Flames.

North Adelaide Rockets vs Central District Lions

Iron Corrigan and Taylor steel Ruby Warner Rockets to late win over Lions  

It was anyone’s game at the end of the third quarter and it was the home side found their steel as they won 74-66 at the Launch Pad. The two “Taylor’s” in Corrigan and Peyton guided the Rockets over the Lions with Corrigan notching a 24 point and 26 rebound double double and Taylor lodging 19 points and 7 rebounds. The Lions Casey Samuels shot her team back into it in the second quarter with a 13-28 quarter to finish with 26 points and 17 rebounds while Raynisha Washington who’ll be right up there in Halls medal contention continued a consistent season with 15 points and 5 rebounds. The match also recognised the memory of Ruby Warner, a player who passed away in July 2020 after a courageous fight with cancer.