North Wrap | Women's Round 8

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Ella Tofaeono and Courtney Woods had match winning NBL1 North performances for Townsville Flames with Northside Wizards scoring the last seven points to beat Sunshine Coast Phoenix, and Rockhampton Cyclones had three five-point results in their triple.

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FRIDAY

Logan Thunder (87) defeated Rockhampton Cyclones (82)

Logan Thunder produced a dominant third quarter to set themselves on the path to a fifth straight victory handing the Rockhampton Cyclones the 87-82 defeat to start their triple header road trip.

Logan were back home at Bendigo Bank Cornubia Park Sports Centre on a four-game winning streak and hosting a Rockhampton team facing three games on the road in South East Queensland this weekend.

It was a tight battle through the first half but then Logan took control with 24 points to 11 in the third quarter on the way to the five-point victory that sees them improve to a 7-1 record with five consecutive wins while Rockhampton are 1-7 having lost their last three.

Logan were able to keep their winning form going with Leah Scott starring once more with 26 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and two steals with 9/14 field goal shooting and going 7/10 at the foul line.

Maddy Allen also had 21 points with 4/10 three-point shooting while Mikhaela Cann contributed 11 points, nine assists, six rebounds and three steals, Amandine Toi nine points, two boards and two steals, and Prasayus Notoa nine points, seven rebounds and three assists.

It wasn’t quite the start to the road triple that Rockhampton were after with Shanique Lucas ending up with 28 points, eight assists and five rebounds on 14/15 free-throw shooting.

Emily Kiser added 17 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and two steals, and Halle Shipton eight points and three boards.

SATURDAY

Brisbane Capitals (71) lost to Townsville Flames (93)

The Townsville Flames needed someone to pick up the slack without Courtney Woods and it was Ella Tofaeono who delivered 31 points and 10 rebounds as they started their road double beating the Brisbane Capitals 93-71.

The Flames started their road double on Saturday night at Vince Hickey Stadium without Woods and the 26.8 points, 9.7 assists and 8.5 rebounds that she provides as they took on a Capitals team at home and coming off a win over the South West Metro Pirates.

Tofaeono already had nine points to quarter-time to help Townsville take control to be leading by 12 at quarter-time and 33 at half-time.

Even with Brisbane winning the second half 51 points to 40, the Flames still cruised to the win by 22 to improve to a 5-3 record to start their road double while the Capitals are now 3-7.

Plenty of Townsville players stepped up in the absence of Courtney Woods but none more so than Ella Tofaeono who produced 31 points and 10 rebounds with 13/16 shooting from the floor.

Chailee Ward added 15 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, Mia Murray 13 points, five rebounds and two steals on 3/7 three-point shooting, Kate Searle 10 points and three boards, Harriet Carey nine points, six rebounds and four assists, and Jaimee Seebohm pulled down 10 rebounds.

It wasn’t quite the performance the Capitals were hoping for following their last up win but they will be hoping to take some confidence out of their 51-point second half showing.

Chanel Enriquez-Paea top scored with 17 points and two assists with 5/10 three-point shooting while Ashley Harris added 13 points, five boards and two assists, and Rachel Mate 12 points, four assists, three steals and two rebounds.

Alyssa Brown also had 11 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals, Tyla Stolberg six points and three boards, and Jess Reif five points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

South West Metro Pirates (83) defeated Rockhampton Cyclones (78)

It was a second straight night on the road for the Rockhampton Cyclones and a second straight five-point loss with the South West Metro Pirates making it consecutive wins prevailing 83-78.

The Pirates were back home at Hibiscus Sports Stadium coming off beating the Ipswich Force while the Cyclones started their triple header weekend with the five-point defeat to the Logan Thunder

South West Metro started well with 19 points to 13 in the first quarter and then that lead got out to 13 in the second term before the home team were on top 40-32 by half-time.

Rockhampton responded with 22 points to 14 in the third frame but the Pirates responded with another 29 points to 24 in the final term on the way to the eventual five-point victory.

South West Metro have now won consecutive games to improve to 3-6 with Hannah Simental finishing with 19 points and six assists with Charlotte Whittaker adding 15 points, six boards, four steals and two assists.

Jenna Kilty added 13 points on 3/3 three-point shooting with Kate Head providing 10 points on 4/6 shooting, Jovana Ilic 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists, Tess Morrison nine points, four boards and four assists, and Steph Bairstow six points and eight rebounds.

Rockhampton are now 1-8 with the second loss to star their road trip with Shanique Lucas producing 22 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals with 7/12 shooting from the field and 8/8 at the foul line.

Gracie Stugart also had 21 points, nine rebound and four assists, Emily Kiser 15 points, six boards and five assists, and Halle Shipton eight points, two rebounds and two steals.

Northside Wizards (80) defeated Sunshine Coast Phoenix (79)

The Northside Wizards delivered a stunning finish scoring the last seven points including the winner from Kelsey Ransom to beat the Sunshine Coast Phoenix 80-79 in a nail-biter.

The Wizards were back home at Northside Indoor Sports Centre coming off a win over the Rockhampton Cyclones with the Phoenix arriving on the back of beating the Southern Districts Spartans.

It was an impressive start from the Phoenix opening up a nine-point lead in the first quarter before being up 20-16 by quarter-time before Northside hit back with 24 points to 18 in the second frame for the 40-38 lead at the half.

Sunshine Coast then worked on top and led by as much as 11 points in the fourth quarter and the Phoenix were still leading 79-73 inside the final minute.

But from there the Phoenix had two turnovers and missed their last shot attempt to try and win the game at the death from Amy Browne after seven straight points from the Wizards.

Grace Ellis hit a couple of free throws before Courtney Virgo knocked down a three-pointer and then Kelsey Ransom hit the game winner in stunning fashion for the Wizards to improve to a 5-4 record.

Ellis had a big night with 25 points, 14 rebounds and three assists with 12/14 free-throw shooting while Nadeen Payne returned and produced 18 points, nine boards and two steals.

Virgo also had 12 points, five steals, three rebounds and three assists, and Ransom eight points, six assists, three steals and two boards.

Sunshine Coast are now 4-5 as a result of the defeat with Erin Bollmann delivering 26 points, 11 assists, nine rebounds, three steals and two blocks.

Maya Price also had 20 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals, Kayla Mathews 16 points and two assists, Amy Browne eight points and four rebounds, and Emma Povh seven points, six boards and three steals.

North Gold Coast Seahawks (100) defeated Ipswich Force (83)

Katie Deeble put up 30 points, Antoniette Emma-Nnopu 24 and Georgia Woolley 21 as the North Gold Coast Seahawks produced their most complete performance of the season to beat the Ipswich Force 100-83.

The Seahawks were back home at Runaway Bay Indoor Stadium trying to hit back from a loss to Logan Thunder while the Force arrived had lost their past two.

It was a flying start from North Gold Coast with 32 points to 12 in the opening quarter on the back of going on an 11-0 run but Ipswich fired back in the second term with 28 points to 16 to cut the lead for the Seahawks to 48-40 by half-time.

It was then just a six-point game by three quarter-time before the Seahawks took control once again with 28 points to 17 in the last period to score the 17-point victory and improve to a 3-5 record.

Deeble ended up with 30 points, six assists and three rebounds with 11/19 shooting from the floor while Emma-Nnopu added 24 points, 12 boards, six steals and two assists on 10/14 field goal shooting along with 3/3 from behind the arc.

Woolley also had 21 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals with Charli Reece contributing 10 points, eight boards and two blocks, and Charlize Brown five points, four rebounds and two assists.

Ipswich are now 2-6 following the defeat with Natasha Elliott top scoring with 16 points, 10 rebounds and three assists with Olivia West adding 15 points, two boards and two assists.

Hannah Young also had 15 points and five rebounds, Georgia Ralph 11 points, four boards and two steals, and Valerie Huerta nine points and five assists.

SUNDAY

Southern Districts Spartans (69) lost to Townsville Flames (104)

The Townsville Flames welcomed back Courtney Woods who had another triple double with 28 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists to lead her team with the second win of the weekend beating the Southern Districts Spartans 104-69.

The Spartans were at home at Rowland Cowan Stadium making their first appearance of the weekend trying to bounce back from a loss to the Sunshine Coast Phoenix while the Flames had beaten the Brisbane Capitals the night before even without Woods.

She was back in the line-up on Sunday and helped Townsville to an early nine-point lead and to still be on top 25-21 by quarter-time.

That lead for Townsville was out to 12 points in the second period and by half-time they were on top 53-43.

It was still a 10-point lead by three quarter-time before the Flames then put up 36 points to 11 in a massive final term for the eventual 35-point win to make it a double win weekend on the way to the 6-3 record.

Woods was back for Townsville and delivered another triple double consisting of 28 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and two steals with 9/14 field shooting and going 9/10 at the free-throw line.

Ella Tofaeono had another 18 points, six rebounds and two assists with Mia Murray adding 13 points, five boards and two assists, Kate Searle 12 points, four rebounds and three steals, Bree Stephens 11 points and two assists, and Chailee Ward eight points and six rebounds.

Southern Districts are now 7-3 with consecutive defeats with Mikayla Cowling finishing with 23 points and seven rebounds while Jess McDowell-White contributed 16 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals with 4/8 three-point shooting.

Hayley McDowell-White also had 13 points, five rebounds and two assists, and Majella Carey eight points and four assists.

Ipswich Force (74) lost to Rockhampton Cyclones (79)

Remarkably it was a third straight five-point result for the Rockhampton Cyclones for this road triple header weekend and this time they were on the winning end with the 79-74 win over the Ipswich Force.

The Cyclones arrived at Ipswich Basketball Stadium on Sunday having lost their previous two road games this weekend both by five points to the South West Metro Pirates and Logan Thunder.

Ipswich were also coming off a 17-point loss the night before away to the North Gold Coast Seahawks but once Rockhampton took over in the first quarter with a 10-0 run, they remained on top most of the way.

That included the Cyclones leading by as much as 15 points in the third quarter and then completing the job on the five-point victory over the Force to improve to a 2-8 record while Ipswich are now 2-7 with the pair of losses this weekend.

Rockhampton will be relieved to head home with a win from their weekend with the five-point victory after back-to-back five-point defeats with Emily Kiser delivering 24 points, 17 rebounds and three assists including seven offensive boards.

Shanique Lucas added 24 points, four rebounds and three assists, Gracie Stugart 17 points, 12 boards, six assists and two steals, and Akaysha Muggeridge nine points, three rebounds and two assists.

Ipswich fell to a second loss of the weekend with Georgia Ralph finishing with 17 points, four rebounds and two assists with Natasha Elliott contributing 17 points, 11 boards, two assists and two steals.

Hannah Young also finished with 13 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists, Charlotte Hegvold 11 points on 4/4 shooting, and Valerie Huerta eight points and six assists.