NBL1 West Recap | Friday Women's Round 6

The Perth Redbacks celebrated the 200th game of captain Jess Jakens with a second win over the East Perth Eagles inside seven days while the Rockingham Flames won a Friday night thriller over the Perry Lakes Hawks.

There were two games in the NBL1 West Women's Division on Friday night to open Round 6 of the 2021 season, and it proved to be a fascinating night of basketball.

The Perth Redbacks came away with the 68-51 road victory over the East Perth Eagles at Mirrabooka's Herb Graham Recreation Centre just seven days after also tasting victory against them at home at Belmont Oasis.

The Redbacks were celebrating the 200-game milestone of captain Jess Jakens who delivered 18 points on 9/11 shooting to mark the occasion. 

She was the top-scorer for her team as they improved to 3-1 on the season while the Eagles slipped to 2-3 despite another 21 points and 10 rebounds from Mary Goulding.

It was then a nail-biter at Bendat Basketball Centre with the Rockingham Flames ending up prevailing 62-61 against the Perry Lakes Hawks.

The Lady Hawks stormed home with a big fourth quarter to give themselves a shot at the comeback win, but ultimately it was a dagger three-pointer from Alex Ciabattoni with a minute to go that proved the winner or the Flames.

Ciabattoni finished with 23 points and four assists for Rockingham while Megan McKay had 21 points and 12 rebounds for Perry Lakes.

Round 6 in the NBL1 West Women's Division continues on Saturday with the South West Slammers hosting the East Perth Eagles at Eaton Recreation Centre.

The Mandurah Magic are also at home to the Warwick Senators while the Cockburn Cougars play host to the Willetton Tigers and the two winners form Friday night, the Rockingham Flames and Perth Redbacks meet at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.

The Kalamunda Eastern Suns are also at home to the Perry Lakes Hawks at Ray Owen Sports Centre.

NBL1 WEST – 2021 WOMEN'S SEASON
ROUND 6 – FRIDAY NIGHT

EAST PERTH EAGLES 51 lost to PERTH REDBACKS 68

For the second straight Friday night the East Perth Eagles and Perth Redbacks locked horns in the NBL1 West Women's Division, and it was a similar result once again.

Last Friday night the two teams played at Belmont Oasis with the Redbacks recording their first victory on their home court for the season, overcoming the Eagles 82-71.

It was the same two teams at it again this Friday night only the venue changed to Mirrabooka's Herb Graham Recreation Centre with the Eagles attempting to bounce back from that loss while the Redbacks had added incentive with the 200th game of captain Jess Jakens.

Building on their momentum from last Friday night, the Redbacks started strongly holding the Eagles to just the eight points in the opening quarter while managing to put up 18 themselves away from home.

Perth continued to pull away further in the second term with another 20 points to 11 and that saw them head into half-time in control leading 38-19.

It was an especially strong defensive effort from the Redbacks anchored by Maddie Allen to hold the Eagles just the 19 points the entire opening half.

Neither team really got rolling in the third quarter with just the combined 22 points but the Redbacks extended their lead by two more points before the Eagles at least took something out of the game winning the fourth term 22 points to 18.

But the Redbacks still proved too good to win 68-51 to improve to a 3-1 record while the Eagles are now 2-3.

In her milestone game, Jess Jakens put up 18 points on 9/11 shooting from the field with the Redbacks captain continuing to lead her club admirably having now been captain ever since 2014.

Her front court partner Maddie Allen was superb all-round too with 11 points, six rebounds, five assists, four blocked shots and three steals.

Shenae Hartree also had 15 points and five rebounds for the Redbacks, Makailah Dyer 12 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and three assists, and Denielle Ashworth six points and six boards.

Mary Goulding continued her outstanding start to the season for East Perth with another 21 points and 10 rebounds while Jade Gowland contributed seven points, four boards and three steals, Cameron Flynn five points and two steals, and Sariah Penese five points, three rebounds and two assists.

PERRY LAKES HAWKS 61 lost to ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 62

Two regular powerhouses in the Women's competition did battle on Friday night at Bendat Basketball Centre and the clash between the Perry Lakes Hawks and Rockingham Flames certainly didn’t disappoint.

Perry Lakes was looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season last week against the Willetton Tigers while Rockingham was putting its undefeated streak on the line for the Friday night contest away from home.

Having won their opening three matches of the season under new coach Tom Knowles and having won the last SBL championship back in 2019, Rockingham started well on Friday night as well at Bendat Basketball Centre.

The Flames led 19-14 over the Lady Hawks by quarter-time but Perry Lakes was able to turn things around in the second term with 17 points to 11 to go into half-time with the narrowest of leads, 31-30.

Rockingham once again turned things around after half-time with a dominant third quarter made up of 21 points to nine to see them amass a 51-40 advantage by three quarter-time.

All of a sudden to start the fourth quarter Megan McKay was on fire scoring nine straight points for Perry Lakes and it was game on. Christina Boag got a steadying three ball for Rockingham but the Hawks had all the momentum.

Maddie Dennis and Nat Burton scored buckets to go along with another McKay as it became a two-point ball game even though the Flames maintained that edge courtesy of Alex Ciabattoni.

Dennis then tied scores up with a bucket for the Hawks before Boag answered for the Flames, and Mia Satie brought Perry Lakes back square with two minutes remaining.

The game winner came courtesy of Ciabattoni with just over a minute left and even though Perry Lakes scored through Satie, it was just a two. The Lady Hawks had one more chance but couldn’t get off a shot and the Flames held on to win 62-61.

Not only did Ciabattoni hit the game winner, but she had a huge night for the Flames with 23 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals on shooting 5/8 from three-point land.

Parid Duffield put up nine points as well for Rockingham, Christina Boag nine points and eight rebounds, Tayah Burrows nine points and six assists, and Zoe Richards seven points and four boards.

Megan McKay was tremendous for Perry Lakes with 21 points, 12 rebounds, four steals and three assists.

Millie McCarthy also had 11 points and two rebounds for the Hawks, Maddie Dennis 10 points and eight boards, and Mia Satie 10 points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists.