NBL1 West Recap | Women's Saturday Round 18

The Goldfields Giants capped their impressive first season in the NBL1 West Women's competition by beating the Perth Redbacks by nine points on Saturday.

The match up was the only game on Saturday in the last round of the regular season in the NBL1 West Women's competition for 2022 with the Redbacks hosting the Giants at Belmont Oasis.

Neither team could make the playoffs so it was just pride on the line with Goldfields pulling away in the third quarter to set up the eventual 79-70 victory.

The result gives the Giants eight wins in their inaugural season to be only one game outside of the top eight and had it not been for season-ending injuries to two key players, Emma Klasztorny and Jemma Gatti, it could have been so much different.

It was a rough season for the Redbacks right from the start and after reaching the preliminary final in 2021, they would be disappointed to have only won five matches in 2022.

Kiriana Hawaikirangi had the best game of her rookie season with the Giants with 31 points, six rebounds and six assists while Shenae Hartree top-scored for the Redbacks with 16 points while Mikayla Pirini added 12 points and 10 assists.

All the other final round matches took place on Friday night with the Cockburn Cougars beating the Willetton Tigers 91-81, the Joondalup Wolves defeating the East Perth Eagles, the Rockingham downing the Lakeside Lightning 97-78, and the Mandurah Magic prevailing 90-68 against the South West Slammers.

The Perry Lakes Hawks geared up for a playoff run by beating the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 106-41 and the Warwick Senators locked away the regular season championship beating the Perth Redbacks 90-69.

What that all means is that next week's elimination finals on Saturday night will see the Cockburn Cougars host the Perry Lakes Hawks while the Lakeside Lightning are at home to the Rockingham Flames.

The qualifying finals see the Joondalup Wolves at home to Mandurah Magic and the Warwick Senators hosting the defending champion Willetton Tigers.

NBL1 WEST – 2022 WOMEN'S SEASON
ROUND 18 – SATURDAY

PERTH REDBACKS 70 lost to GOLDFIELDS GIANTS 79