NBL1 West Recap | Women's Friday Round 15

The Perth Redbacks snapped their NBL1 West Women's losing streak to open Round 15 on Friday night while the Mandurah Magic consolidated their top four spot and inflicted more pain on the Rockingham Flames.

With their two biggest guns coming off the bench and starring, the Perth Redbacks snapped a six-game losing streak and handed the Kalamunda Eastern Suns a fourth straight loss by winning 85-62 to open Round 15 in the NBL1 West on Friday night.

Captain Jess Jakens delivered 20 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three steals for the Redbacks while Makailah Dyer put up 16 points and 10 boards with Parker Esary adding 20 points and seven rebounds.

Marissa Pangalos did what she could for Kalamunda with 29 points despite the absence of import Imani Guy before losing Georgia Denehey early to injury.

The Mandurah Magic continued their hot form to win a fourth straight match to stay in fourth spot while handing the Rockingham Flames a fifth consecutive loss with Friday night's 84-54 victory.

Sarah Toeaina scored 14 points for the Magic, Casey Mihovilovich 12, Carly Boag 12 and Alex Wittinger 11. Mehryn Kraker finished with 18 points and three assists for Rockingham.

Round 15 in the NBL1 West continues on Saturday evening at 5pm with the East Perth Eagles playing the Mandurah Magic and then it's a blockbuster between a Warwick Senators team on an 11-game winning streak at home to the undefeated Joondalup Wolves in a top-of-the-table clash at Warwick Stadium.

Then at 5.30pm, the Goldfields Giants are at home to the Willetton Tigers in Kalgoorlie while at 6pm, the Lakeside Lightning play the South West Slammers and the Kalamunda Eastern Suns take on the Cockburn Cougars at 6.30pm.

NBL1 WEST – 2022 WOMEN'S SEASON
ROUND 15 – FRIDAY NIGHT

PERTH REDBACKS 89 defeated KALAMUNDA EASTERN SUNS 62

The Perth Redbacks emphatically returned to the NBL1 West winner's list by beating the Kalamunda Eastern Suns by 27 points on Friday night.

Both teams were in desperate need of a win coming into the Friday night contest to open Round 15 of the 2022 season with the Redbacks having lost their last six and the Eastern Suns their previous three with both having only combined for five wins from 30 attempts so far.

That set the tone for a desperate battle and the Redbacks received a boost with the return of former WNBL point guard Mikayla Pirini while the Eastern Suns were still missing star import Imani Guy and her 19.9 points and 10.0 rebounds a game.

Perth coach Michelle Fletcher then shook things up in the search of a drought breaking win by benching key players Makailah Dyer and Jess Jakens. It ended up working because not only did the new starters play well, but Dyer and Jakens put in match-winning performances.

The chances of Kalamunda to remain competitive became all that more challenging early on when point guard Georgia Denehey went down injured and didn’t return.

Despite that, the Suns did well in the opening quarter to open up a 10-point advantage and to still be on top 23-19 by quarter-time.

The Redbacks were able to turn the tide in the second quarter by going on a 12-0 run and putting up 29 points to nine overall to head into the half-time break in control leading 48-32.

Kalamunda kept fighting through the third quarter but couldn’t quite close the gap and then Perth pulled away further in the fourth period with 22 points to nine to end up winning 89-62.

It was a first win for the Redbacks in seven attempts and first since May 27 as they improve to 4-12 on the season while the Eastern Suns have now lost four straight at 2-14 ahead of hosting the dangerous Cockburn Cougars on Saturday.

The Redbacks pulled down 55 rebounds to 41 for the game while both teams combined for 50 turnovers as they tried to find some form. In the end, the shooting was the major difference with the Redbacks hitting 46.8 per cent opposed to 30.9 from the Suns.

Despite not starting, Jess Jakens (20 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three steals) and Makailah Dyer (16 points, 10 boards, four assists) performed strongly in the win for the Redbacks.

Parker Esary produced her best performance since her Redbacks debut with 20 points and nine rebounds while Shenae Hartree added 11 points, three rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

Having scored just two points in her last six matches, former Eastern Suns captain Rebecca Motroni also had eight points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals for the Redbacks in her 210th game.

Marissa Pangalos did what she could to try and keep Kalamunda in the contest with 29 points and two assists with import guard Lexie Bland producing 10 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Ella Thornton-Elliott finished with six points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists against her former team with Aisha Forrest adding six points and seven rebounds.

MANDURAH MAGIC 84 defeated ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 54

The Mandurah Magic thumped their local rivals Rockingham Flames by 30 points on Friday night to continue the contrasting form of both teams in the NBL1 West Women's competition.

The Magic and Flames locked horns at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre to open Round 15 with Mandurah coming into the game on a three-game winning run while Rockingham had lost four in-a-row.

That recent trend continued on Friday night even though by quarter-time scores were locked at 18-18.

The Magic asserted their dominance in the second quarter with 24 points to eight on the back of scoring 12 consecutive points to head into the half-time break in control leading 42-26.

The Magic pulled further away in the third quarter to turn that scoring streak into 14 straight points and the lead ended up growing to 24 points.

Another 20 points to nine in the fourth period and Mandurah ended leading by as much as 33 points before ending up winning 84-54.

It's a fourth straight win for the Magic who remain in fourth position at 11-5 while the Flames are just clinging to a playoff spot at 8-9 having now lost five in-a-row.

Mandurah forced Rockingham into 19 turnovers for the game while the Magic shot at 44.1 per cent from the floor opposed to 29.2 per cent from the Flames.

Games record holder Casey Mihovilovich returned for Mandurah for her 524th career match and was outstanding once more with 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists while shooting 3/4 from beyond the arc.

Sarah Toeaina added 14 points and five assists for the Magic, Carly Boag 12 points, five rebounds, five assists, four blocks and three steals, Alex Wittinger 11 points, five boards and three steals, and Hannah Little eight points, 12 rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Mehryn Kraker finished the night with 18 points and three assists for Rockingham while shooting 3/5 from three-point territory.

Alecia Knowles added 12 points and three rebounds on the back of knocking down 4/6 from the land of plenty with Patty Brossmann contributing seven points, eight rebounds and three assists, and Taylor Ortlepp four points on just 2/13 shooting.