NBL1 North Recap | Friday Women's Round 1

The 2022 NBL1 North season got underway with two big games on Friday night and it was the Rockhampton Cyclones and Townsville Flames that came away victorious.

It was the season opening night in the NBL1 North competition for 2022 and it saw the Rockhampton Cyclones produce an impressive performance to beat the Sunshine Coast Phoenix 98-73 at Bravus Arena.

Jannon Otto top-scored with 26 points for the Cyclones while Caitlin Clancy put up 18 points for the Phoenix.

Then also on the season opening night, the Townsville Flames defeated the Ipswich Force 101-64 at Townsville StarFM Stadium.

Steph Reid delivered 23 points and seven assists in the win for the Flames with Tia Hay putting up 22 points for the Force.

The opening round of the NBL1 North Women's season continues on Saturday evening with the Northside Wizards hosting the Brisbane Capitals, the Cairns Dolphins taking on the Ipswich Force and the Mackay Meteorettes battling the Sunshine Coast Phoenix.

The Southern Districts Spartans also play USC Rip City with the North Gold Coast Seahawks also at home to the South West Metro Pirates and the Darwin Salties make their debut at home to the Red City Roar.

NBL1 NORTH – 2022 WOMEN'S SEASON
ROUND 1 – FRIDAY NIGHT

ROCKHAMPTON CYCLONES 98 defeated SUNSHINE COAST PHOENIX 73

The Rockhampton Cyclones opened up the NBL1 North season for 2022 with an impressive win at home on Friday night against the Sunshine Coast Phoenix.

It was a strong showing on the opening night of the season for the Cyclones at Bravus Arena against the Phoenix.

It was a tight game in the opening quarter of the contest with Rockhampton only leading narrowly 25-19 by the end of the first quarter.

The Cyclones began to pull away during the second quarter with 29 points to 17 to be in control going into the half-time break leading 51-36.

The Phoenix battled hard throughout the second half but couldn’t ever really make too many inroads on the Cyclones with Rockhampton outscoring them still 23 points to 19 in the third quarter, and 24 to 18 in the fourth.

That saw the Cyclones record the 98-73 season-opening win despite losing the rebound battle by four. They made up for that by shooting 52.7 per cent from the field opposed to 40.3 from the Phoenix.

Jannon Otto was the star of the night for Rockhampton with 26 points, seven rebounds and three assists on the back of shooting 12/22 from the floor.

Heidi Freeburn delivered 17 points, four rebounds, three assists and three assists as well for the Cyclones with Lara McSpadden adding 15 points and three boards, Madison Torresin 13 points and nine rebounds, and Anneliese Watkinson.

Bri Bailey also knocked down her two three-point attempts to go with two assists marking her return to Queensland after a couple of years out west playing with the Perth Redbacks.

It was a tough season-opener for Sunshine Coast but Caitlin Clancy produced 18 points and five assists, Brianna Gregory-Johnson 15 points and eight rebounds, Amy Browne 15 points, seven boards and three assists, and Nicola Handreck 12 points, three rebounds and three assists.

TOWNSVILLE FLAMES 101 defeated IPSWICH FORCE 64

The Townsville Flames enjoyed their opening to the 2022 NBL1 North season in front of a big home crowd against the Ipswich Force on Friday night.

The Flames got to host the opening night of the NBL1 North season on Friday and with an impressive crowd turning out to Townsville StarFM Stadium, the home team rose to the challenge against the Force.

It was a hot start in the second opener from Townsville with 25 points to 14 in the opening quarter.

Ipswich did well to stem the tide in the second quarter but still it was the Flames heading into the half-time break leading 44-33.

Any thoughts Ipswich had of a fight back was quickly blown away in the third quarter with Townsville producing some scintillating basketball putting up 36 points to open up an 80-49 lead by three quarter-time.

It was another 21 points to 15 in the fourth quarter and Townsville was able to romp to the 101-64 victory to open the new season in style in front of their home fans.

It was a remarkable dominance on the glass from the Flames with 59 rebounds to just 31 from the Force including 19 at the offensive end to seven. 

Townsville Fire WNBL star Steph Reid has come back to the Flames this NBL1 season ready for a big impact on the back of 23 points, seven assists and three rebounds in the season opener.

Courtney Woods was also brilliant for Townsville with 28 points and eight rebounds with Jaimee Seebohm contributing 16 points, 18 rebounds and five assists, Mia Murray 14 points and six boards, and Lauren Andrews seven points and eight rebounds.

Tia Hay battled hard for Ipswich to finish with 22 points, four assists and three steals with Kasey Burton contributing 17 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

Courtenay Wragg also had nine points and five rebounds for the Force, and Georgia Ralph six points.