NBL1 West Recap | Women's Friday Round 17

The Joondalup Wolves took full advantage of a shorthanded Kalamunda Eastern Suns in the NBL1 West on Friday night to stay clear in top spot while the Lakeside Lightning dealt a significant blow to the Perry Lakes Hawks.

There were just the two matches on Friday night in Round 17 of the NBL1 West to open the second last weekend of the regular season with wins for the Joondalup Wolves and Lakeside Lightning.

The Joondalup Wolves maintained their hold on top spot in the NBL1 West Women's competition by beating the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 110-58 on Friday night at HBF Arena.

Robbi Ryan was missing for the Wolfpack but Teige Morrell delivered 24 points and eight rebounds, and Nes'eya Parker-Williams 22 points and 13 boards.

The Eastern Suns were still missing Imani Guy and Georgia Denehey with Lexie Bland also out but Ella Thornton-Elliott stepped up with 20 points.

The Lakeside Lightning kept their hopes alive of still finishing in fifth position in the NBL1 West while putting the playoff aspirations of the Perry Lakes Hawks in jeopardy with the 82-72 win.

Ruth Hamblin proved the difference between the teams with 24 points, 19 rebounds and six blocks with Ash Isenbarger adding 28 points for Lakeside.

Emma Clarke had another 25 points for Perry Lakes with Sara Loomis adding 17 points and 17 rebounds.

Round 17 in the NBL1 West continues on Saturday evening with the Mandurah Magic at home to the Joondalup Wolves while the South West Slammers host the East Perth Eagles, and the Goldfields Giants take on the Cockburn Cougars.

The Lakeside Lightning also play the Willetton Tigers while the Rockingham Flames are at home to the Perth Redbacks.

NBL1 WEST – 2022 WOMEN'S SEASON
ROUND 17 – FRIDAY NIGHT

JOONDALUP WOLVES 110 defeated KALAMUNDA EASTERN SUNS 58

The Joondalup Wolves took full advantage of a terribly shorthanded Kalamunda Eastern Suns to maintain top spot in the NBL1 West with a thumping 52-point on Friday night.

It was always going to be a big ask for the Eastern Suns up against the top-of-the-table Wolfpack at HBF Arena to open Round 17 of the NBL1 West season.

Their job was made tougher with the continued absence of Georgia Denehey and Imani Guy, but was compounded further with the loss of import guard Lexie Bland for coach Tim Rendulic up against the club he helped win a championship as an assistant.

The game was virtually out of reach of Kalamunda early with Joondalup scoring the opening seven points and then leading 19-2 after six minutes despite the absence of newly signing Perth Lynx WNBL guard Robbi Ryan.

From there, the Wolfpack still led 30-18 by the end of the first quarter and then scored another 31 points to 15 in the second term to go into the half-time break leading 61-33.

Kalamunda did well to stick with Joondalup in the third quarter and limiting the damage, but then remarkably the Suns scored just two points the entire fourth quarter.

The Wolves added 24 points of their own to end up winning 110-58 and improve to a 17-1 record on the season to remain clear in top spot. The Eastern Suns have lost seven straight now at 2-17.

Joondalup collected 53 rebounds to 26 for the game while shooting 56.9 per cent from the field opposed to 29.5 along with hitting 12/30 from downtown compared with 8/27.

Teige Morrell continued her standout season for the Wolves with 24 points, eight rebounds and three assists on 9/14 shooting with Nes'eya Parker-Williams forming a potent frontcourt with her with 22 points, 13 boards, three steals, two assists and two blocks.

Tia Ucich added 17 points, five rebounds and four assists, Kiara Phillips 17 points and three assists, and Shani Caldwell 13 points and six assists.

Ella Thornton-Elliott continued her breakout season for the Eastern Suns since making the move from the Perth Redbacks with 20 points on 5/13 shooting from three-point land.

Marissa Pangalos added 16 points and four steals, and Aisha Forrest 10 points and four rebounds.

PERRY LAKES HAWKS 72 lost to LAKESIDE LIGHTNING 82

The Lakeside Lightning proved too strong for the Perry Lakes Hawks on Friday night winning by 10 points to keep their hopes alive of finishing the regular as high as fifth in the NBL1 West.

The Hawks had a chance to further move clear in eighth position of the Goldfields Giants when hosting the Lightning at Bendat Basketball Centre with Perry Lakes coach Craig Mansfield also coming up against a Lakeside team he took to a championship.

Even though Perry Lakes started strongly at home with an early 8-0 run, Lakeside worked their way on top with nine straight points of their own to end up leading by double-figures, and still being on top 28-21 by quarter-time.

Scoring became a little harder for both teams in the second quarter but in the end the Lightning still managed 13 points to 11 to be on top 41-32 at half-time.

Lakeside blew the game out further during the third quarter to lead by as much 18 points and they were up by double-figures most of the rest of the way to end up winning 82-72.

It's an important win for the Lightning too who improve to 10-8 as a result to be hot on the heels of the fifth placed Cockburn Cougars who are 11-7.

It could be a crucial loss for Perry Lakes who are now 8-11 and still in eighth spot, but only just ahead of the 7-11 Goldfields Giants.

Ash Isenbarger had a big night for Lakeside with 28 points, nine rebounds and four assists while Ruth Hamblin was a dominant presence with 24 points, 19 boards and six blocked shots.

Opal Mader added 12 points, five rebounds and three assists for the Lightning, and Caitie Jones eight points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals.

Emma Clarke was up against her former team and she led the charge for Perry Lakes with 25 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

Sara Loomis added 17 points, 17 rebounds and five assists for the Hawks, Morgan Ballantyne six points, three boards, two assists and two steals, and Mia Satie four points, 11 rebounds and four steals.