West Wrap | Women's First Nations Round

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Alyssa Bowen hit seven triples for 32 points for Eastern Suns on Sunday while duo starred in NBL1 West First Nations Round wins including Cierra Walker/Daniel Raber for Cockburn Cougars, Kyana Weir/Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard for Warwick Senators, and Esme Morales/Delaynie Crawford for Lakeside Lightning.

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FRIDAY

Cockburn Cougars (103) defeated Mandurah Magic (66)

The Cockburn Cougars once again had to come from behind but dominated the second half with Daniel Raber and Cierra Walker combining for 57 points, 17 rebounds, 11 assists, six steals and nine triples in the 103-66 win over the Mandurah Magic.

Wally Hagan Stadium played host to what shaped as a mouth-watering contest with the Cougars sitting on top but needing to keep winning to stay there while the Magic arrived on a five-game winning run and trying to break into the top four.

Mandurah then got out to a seven-point lead in the second quarter but Cockburn had assumed the momentum by half-time and took complete control in the second half.

The Cougars outscored the Magic 57 points to 23 after half-time highlighted by a fourth quarter with 26 points on 12/17 shooting with Mandurah managing only the 11 points on 4/11 shooting with five turnovers.

The win keeps Cockburn in top spot at 14-2 having now won six straight and doing so minus Darcee Garbin and Jewel Williams with the Magic remaining outside the top four at 10-6.

Raber delivered her best performance of the season getting more opportunities without Darcee in the front court to finish with 31 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three steals with 4/5 three-point shooting.

Walker also delivered 26 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals with 5/12 long-range shooting while Hannah Summers contributed 12 points and five steals, Ayla Pizzuto nine points, three rebounds and two steals, and the returning Jaya Scafidi eight points, three boards and two steals.

The Magic missed the chance to break into the top four with what would have been a sixth straight win with Claire Jacobs top scoring once more with 18 points, three assists, three steals and two rebounds.

Sister Mia also had 11 points and eight rebounds with 3/6 shooting from deep with Mikayla Pivec contributing nine points, six boards and two assists, and Jade Gowland nine points and six rebounds.

Willetton Tigers (80) lost to Joondalup Wolves (87)

The Joondalup Wolves withstood the fast-finishing Willetton Tigers to keep their playoff hopes alive with the 87-80 road victory.

The Tigers were back home at Willetton Basketball Stadium having lost their past nine matches taking on a Joondalup team looking to stay in touch of a top eight spot and back up their win against the Perry Lakes Hawks.

The Wolfpack had the better of the start away from home with 27 points to 20 in the first quarter and were still leading 47-42 by half-time before a dominant third frame with 22 to 11.

That saw Joondalup leading by as much as 18 points but the Tigers threw everything at a miracle fightback with 27 points to 18 in the final term only for the Wolves to hold on for the seven-point victory.

The win improves the Wolfpack to a 7-10 record to now move into eighth position as a result by the end of Round 15 with Kim Pierre-Louis continuing her standout form with another 23 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals on 10/16 shooting.

Asianae Johnson 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, Yemiyah Morris 14 points, 16 boards and two blocks, Awatea Leach 13 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals, and Ella Thornton-Elliott nine points, four rebounds and two assists.

The Tigers have now lost 10 in-a-row to be 3-13 on the season with Emma Gandini finishing with 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals in her 248th game.

Nija Collier also had 13 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and three steals, Emma Calvert 13 points, nine boards, five assists and two steals, Ruby Porter 12 points and three rebounds, and Remy Hearn nine points and two assists.

East Perth Eagles (89) defeated South West Slammers (76)

The East Perth Eagles improved to second position with the 89-76 hard earned win over the South West Slammers with all five starters contributing strongly and scoring in double figures.

The Eagles were back home at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre having won their past three games including over the Rockingham Flames who they could replace in second position with a win.

South West arrived having lost their past six games and it was a strong start from East Perth 27 points to 16 in the opening period.

The Slammers were battling hard, though, and limited the lead for the Eagles to 49-42 by half-time and then had it back to just a three-point ball game by three quarter-time.

The Eagles responded with 17 points to eight in the last term to secure the 13-point win to improve to a 13-4 record and move into second place.

Captain Stacey Barr showed the way again for East Perth with 18 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and four steals with Sydney Wright adding 17 points and three assists, and Brooke Malone 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Sarah Mortensen also had 14 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and three rebounds, and Jade Williams 13 points, eight boards, two steals and two blocks.

The Slammers remain in bottom spot at 3-13 with Melanie Hoyt delivering 22 points, 11 rebounds and two assists, and Hana Lacey-Rameka 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Bri Bailey also had 14 points and eight assists against one of her former teams with Charlotte Mills adding 13 points, five rebounds and five steals, and Casey Paea eight points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals.

SATURDAY

Warwick Senators (102) defeated South West Slammers (58)

Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard and Kyana Weir combined for 45 points, 14 rebounds and 10 three-pointers as the Warwick Senators maintained their top four position beating the South West Slammers 102-58.

The Senators were back at Warwick Stadium looking to bounce back from a loss to the Mandurah Magic to close the gap from fourth to fifth while the Slammers arrived fresh off losing for a seventh straight time the night before against the East Perth Eagles.

South West then made a stunning start trying to snap their losing slide going on a 10-0 run to be leading 27-13 by quarter-time and to end up leading by as much as 16 early in the second term.

Warwick hit back with 13 straight points themselves and by half-time were just clinging to the 37-36 advantage.

It was then a remarkably dominant third quarter with 37 points to four before then that lead blew out to 44 points in the last quarter for the eventual 44-point victory.

The win improves the Senators to a 12-5 record to stay solid in fourth place with Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard top scoring with 23 points, 11 rebounds, four steals and three assists with 4/8 three-point shooting.

Kyana Weir also landed 6/10 from long-range for 22 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals with Chloe Forster adding 18 points, eight assists and three steals.

Isabella Andrew added 14 points with 4/6 shooting from downtown while Grega Kampschroeder contributed 11 points, five rebounds and two assists, and Katie Cummins nine points on 4/4 shooting.

The Slammers have now lost eight in-a-row at 3-14 with Hana Lacey-Rameka putting up 23 points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists, Melanie Hoyt 12 points, eight boards and two assists, and Bri Bailey eight points and two rebounds.

Perth Redbacks (88) lost to Perry Lakes Hawks (89)

Mila Wawszkowicz hit the clutch free throw to complete a 12-1 run to close the game in the last four minutes as the Perry Lakes Hawks stormed home in Albany to beat the Perth Redbacks 89-88 as both teams jostle over a playoff spot.

The two teams are looking to make it an annual fixture in Albany and there was plenty on the line for the contest with the Redbacks coming into it having won four straight to be in eighth spot with the Hawks not far behind as the finals close in.

With Patty Brossmann a dominant presence, the Redbacks worked their way to a double-figure lead by the fourth quarter and were still on top by 10 with four minutes to go thanks to a triple from Shenae Hartree.

But it was all the Hawks from there with the next four points from Makenna Marisa before a three ball to Mia Bailey and then Marisa made it a one-point ball game, and tied scores up at the foul line.

Eventually Wawszkowicz was fouled for Perry Lakes with just under a second to go and made the second at the stripe that secured the win by a point after the 12-1 run with the Hawks forcing the Redbacks into four turnovers and six missed shots over the last four minutes.

The result leaves the Redbacks at 6-9 and the Hawks 6-10 with the two teams sure to battle the rest of the regular season over a spot in the top eight.

It was a crucial win in the context of the season for Perry Lakes and impressive in the absence of Bridgettte Rettstatt with Makenna Marisa delivering 27 points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals.

Emilie Beggs added 16 points, two rebounds and two assists, Emma Clark eight points, Mia Bailey nine points, three boards, two assists and two steals, Mila Wawszkowicz seven points and two rebounds, and Maddy Zugna seven points and two boards.

It's a first loss for the Redbacks since May 30 with Patty Brossmann coming up huge with 25 points, 19 rebounds, five assists and three steals including eight of the team's 23 offensive boards.

Sophie Doran added 15 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals, Shenae Hartree 14 points, four boards and three assists, and Sam Ashby 12 points, three rebounds and two assists.

Lakeside Lightning (81) defeated Goldfields Giants (70)

The Lakeside Lightning kept themselves in the top eight and the slide of the Goldfields Giants continued in the absence of Sierra Moore with the 81-70 home win.

Coming into the contest at Lakeside Recreation Centre and the Lightning were seventh at 7-9 and the Giants just ahead at 8-7 so there was plenty at stake for both teams as finals approach.

It was a tight battle through the first half with no more than six points separating the two teams which was the way of Goldfields in the second quarter before they were leading 34-33 by half-time.

Lakeside took over from there with 20 points to 13 in the third frame and 28 to 23 in the fourth on the way to the 11-point victory.

The win improves the Lightning to an 8-9 record with consecutive wins with import pair Esme Morales (23 points, four assists, three rebounds, 4/8 three-point shooting) and Delanie Crawford (23 points, 14 boards, four assists, two blocks, 5/7 long-range shooting) outstanding.

Sam Lubcke added 15 points, nine rebounds and three assists, Sarah Allen 10 points, three boards and three assists, and Kiriana Kawaikirangi eight points, five steals, four rebounds and two assists.

Goldfields have now lost three in-a-row since the ankle injury to Sierra Moore to now be 8-9 as well with Delaynie Byrne battling hard without her partner in crime with 21 points, 18 rebounds and two assists.

Chloe Zorzi added 16 points and five rebounds, Rachel Pettit 14 points, three boards, three assists and two steals with 4/9 three-point shooting, and Hazelle Yam 13 points, four rebounds and four assists.

SUNDAY

Kalamunda Eastern Suns (75) defeated Goldfields Giants (62)

Alyssa Bowen caught fire spectacularly with seven triples and 35 points to lead the Kalamunda Eastern Suns to the 75-62 win over a Goldfields Giants team only just hanging on to a playoff spot without Sierra Moore.

The Giants were right in the mix for a top four spot before Moore injured an ankle two weeks ago against the Magic and they had lost three straight as a result upon arrival at Ray Owen Sports Centre on Sunday.

The Eastern Suns had also lost their past four to just about be out of the playoff hunt, but they could keep their faint hopes alive by going on a winning run and Bowen ensured that happened on their home floor.

She had 17 of her 32 points in the third quarter with the Suns outscoring the Giants 43 points to 32 after half-time for the 13-point victory to improve to a 5-12 record with Goldfields now 8-9.

It was a monster performance from Bowen ahead of her attending Utah Tech University as she knocked down 7/15 from three-point land for 35 points and eight rebounds.

Trista Hull also had 12 points, 12 rebounds, six blocks, four assists and four steals for the Suns, Gaby Bronson eight points, 10 boards, four assists and two steals, and Denae Civich seven points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals.

The Giants have now lost the past four coinciding with the loss of MVP fancy Sierra Moore with Delaynie Byrne holding down the fort in her absence with 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

Chloe Zorzi also ended up with 12 points and seven rebounds, Hazelle Yam 12 points, five boards and five steals, and Rachel Pettit 12 points, four rebounds and four assists in the 245th game of her career.