West Finals | Mortensen sets up return to Cockburn

Featured image: Madeleine Clark | @madeleineclarkmedia

The Goldfields Giants put up a valiant fight but ultimately Sarah Mortensen was the difference with 28 points and 17 rebounds as she now leads the East Perth Eagles to her old NBL1 West floor for Sunday's preliminary final against the Cockburn Cougars.

Goldfields were playing their first ever finals series and never gave up the fight on the road to East Perth on Friday night, but ultimately Mortensen lifted the Eagles to the 84-77 victory that is their first women's playoff win since they made the Grand Final all the way back in 2011.

The Eagles finished the regular season under Coach of the Year Jonelle Morley in third position before last week's two-point loss to the Rockingham Flames ahead returning home to Morley Sport and Recreation Centre on Friday night.

East Perth were 9-1 at home through the season with the Giants arriving on the high of winning their first ever women's final last Saturday night in Kalgoorlie against the Lakeside Lightning.

The Eagles did welcome back former WNBL and New Zealand international guard McKenna Dale from a knee injury while the Giants were without Chloe Zorzi, but Goldfields started with no fear on the road and had an early 11-point advantage.

>> FIERCE COMPETITOR DREAMS OF FAIRYTALE FINISH

>> ROSIE'S 'SICK' FORM THAT DIDN'T FEEL POSSIBLE

>> MORLEY RIGHTFULLY PROUD TO BE COACH OF THE YEAR

>> WEST FINALS | GIANTS MAKE HISTORY WINNING FIRST FINAL

>> WEST FINALS | FLAMES HOLD OUT FAST-FINISHING EAGLES

>> WEST FINALS | COUGARS ONE WIN FROM FOURTH GF

>> WEST FINALS | DEEGAN, WOLFPACK SINK MAGIC

The Eagles did steady to cut the Giants advantage to 27-23 by the end of the opening quarter with Lexi Pana and Rachel Pettit combining to shoot 4/6 from the outside for the visitors.

East Perth were able to turn the tide in the second quarter putting up 28 points with 12/20 shooting and it was Sarah Mortensen who was taking over using her experience of winning two championships in the NBL1 West already.

She was up to 14 points at half-time and the Eagles were leading 51-41 on 53 per cent shooting to 40 despite the 15 points from Giants centre Delaynie Byrne.

That East Perth lead could have been bigger had it not been 7/16 foul shooting that was largely from the 1/6 from Jade Williams who was having a big game aside from that with nine points, 11 rebounds and five assists.

Goldfields were up for the fight, though, and had 21 points to 16 in the third quarter to close the East Perth lead to 67-62 by three quarter-time.

The Giants opened the fourth quarter with triples from Pana and Byrne to get back within a point but Mortensen responded for East Perth, and then captain Stacey Barr hit a triple before Williams scored inside to have the Eagles back up seven.

Goldfields kept on responding and Byrne had the margin back to three with two minutes to play, but again Mortensen answered and from there the Eagles were able to seal the deal for the seven-point victory.

Remarkably, it's East Perth's first women's finals win in the NBL1 era despite a top four finish in 2021 and it's their first overall since they reached the SBL Grand Final in 2011.

East Perth now have the chance to reach a first Grand Final in 15 years when they take on the Cockburn Cougars at Wally Hagan Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

That will mark a return to her old home floor for Sarah Mortensen who won 2023 and 2025 championship with the Cougars, and only two weeks ago hit a stunning walk off game winner for East Perth against Cockburn.

She will go into that feeling good too after having 28 points, 17 rebounds and three assists with 14/23 shooting.

Brooke Malone played outstanding defence on Sierra Moore and also had 14 points, six rebounds, three blocks and two assists with Jade Williams adding 13 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.

Sydney Wright also had nine points, two rebounds and two assists with captain Stacey Barr flirting with a triple double with nine points, nine rebounds and nine assists.

McKenna Dale successfully returned from a knee injury with seven points on 3/3 shooting to get through 11 minutes while Jo Odude contributed four points, six rebounds and two assists.

The Giants have taken massive strides forward this season to reach the finals for the first time with Delaynie Byrne dominating inside for 26 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots.

Lexi Pana also had 15 points, 11 assists, five rebounds and two steals, and captain Rachel Pettit 15 points, four rebounds and two assists with 5/12 shooting from the outside.

It was a tough night for the woman considered by many unlucky not to be MVP, Sierra Moore, who had 11 points, eight rebounds and three assists with 5/16 shooting.

NBL1 WEST 2026 SEASON | SEMI FINALS

EAST PERTH EAGLES 84 (Mortensen 28, Malone 14, Williams 13)

GOLDFIELDS GIANTS 77 (Byrne 26, Pana 15, Pettit 15)