Bourne's 39 Points Propel Thunder Past Eagles

Keilor Thunder defeated Diamond Valley Eagles 90-74 on Saturday at Diamond Valley Sports & Fitness Centre, securing a commanding road win to start their weekend campaign. The Thunder dominated thanks to a stellar performance from Isabelle Bourne, who poured in 39 points on an efficient 57 percent shooting. The visitors controlled the glass with a decisive 48-35 rebounding advantage, including 20 offensive boards that led to 11 second-chance points. Maddison Rocci added 36 points and eight assists while the Thunder showcased superior ball movement with 23 assists compared to Diamond Valley's eight. The Eagles struggled from outside, hitting just 15 percent from beyond the arc (4-of-26). Abbey Ellis led Diamond Valley with 22 points including a perfect 11-of-11 from the charity stripe, while Tayha Watkins contributed 19 points on 75 percent shooting. Despite connecting at a higher rate inside the arc (62 percent), the Eagles couldn't overcome their rebounding disadvantage and 16 turnovers. **KEILOR THUNDER 90 (Isabelle Bourne 39, Maddison Rocci 36, Madeline Puli 10).** **DIAMOND VALLEY EAGLES 74 (Abbey Ellis 22, Tayha Watkins 19, Sophie Byrnes 14).** #NBL1East #BasketballAustralia