West Wrap | Women's Round 12

Featured image: Skylar Forbes | @Skyjayd.Photography

Sam Ashby had 60 points in two huge performances in Perth Redbacks wins while Cierra Walker, Sarah Mortensen and Claire Jacobs had big says in NBL1 West wins as well for the Cockburn Cougars, East Perth Eagles and Mandurah Magic.

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FRIDAY

Willetton Tigers (74) lost to Lakeside Lightning (81)

Esme Morales produced another big performance made up of 31 points to lead the Lakeside Lightning to the 81-74 road win over the Willetton Tigers to further entrench themselves in the top eight.

The two local rivals did battle on Friday night at Willetton Basketball Stadium with the Tigers trying to snap a five-game losing run and the Lightning also coming into it having won their past three.

After falling down four points early, Lakeside then took over with an 8-0 run on the way to be leading 22-11 by quarter-time only for Willetton to hit back with 23 points to 13 in the second term.

That saw the Lightning clinging to the 35-34 half-time advantage before things remained tight including the Tigers being up four early in the fourth frame until Lakeside made their move by going on a 10-0 run.

From there the Lightning secured the seven-point victory to improve to a 6-7 record and remain solid inside the top eight with Esme Morales starring with 31 points, two rebounds and two assists on 12/19 field goal shooting.

Delanie Crawford added 16 points, 15 rebounds and five assists, Sam Roscoe 13 points, nine boards and two assists, Kiriana Hawaikirangi six points and four assists, and Sarah Allen six points and three assists.

Willetton have now lost six straight to be 3-9 on the season with Emma Calvert delivering 33 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Ruby Porter also had 13 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals, Nija Collier eight points, 24 rebounds and three assists, and Remy Hearn eight points, nine assists and four boards.

 

Perth Redbacks (82) defeated Kalamunda Eastern Suns (75)

Sam Ashby continued her hot form to lead the Perth Redbacks to the 82-75 home victory against the Kalamunda Eastern Suns with another 28 points, seven assists and six rebounds.

The Redbacks were back home at Belmont Oasis on the back of a win against the South West Slammers as they try to stay in the finals hunt up against an Eastern Suns team in the same situation just one win ahead of them.

The Suns got the better of the start with 17 points to seven in the first quarter before the Redbacks put up 34 points in the second term even with Kalamunda still clinging to the 42-41 advantage at the half.

Perth then worked on top through the second half with 15 points to 11 in the third period, and 26 to 22 in the fourth on the way to the seven-point home win to improve to a 4-8 record to remain a playoff chance.

Ashby was the star in the win for the Redbacks with 28 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals with 6/13 three-point shooting along with going 6/6 at the free-throw line.

Shenae Hartree also had 15 points, six rebounds and two assists, Patty Brossmann 12 points, 13 boards, three steals, two assists and two blocks, and Olivia Berry 10 points, four rebounds and four assists.

The Eastern Suns are now 4-10 on the season following the defeat with Gaby Bronson putting up 24 points, seven rebounds and two assists with Alyssa Bowen contributing 15 points, four steals, three boards and three assists, Trista Hull 14 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks, and Kayla Kiriau 13 points, five steals, three assists and two boards.

Cockburn Cougars (75) defeated Rockingham Flames (69)

The battle for top spot suddenly got a whole lot more interesting with Cierra Walker hitting five second half threes as the Cockburn Cougars overpowered the Rockingham Flames to win 75-69.

The two teams played out a cracking Grand Final in 2024 at RAC Arena with the Flames finishing strongly to claim the championship but the Cougars beat them twice in 2025 including to open the playoffs on the way to claiming a second title in the past three years.

Then coming into the Friday night match up at Wally Hagan Stadium occupying the top two positions and looking to make a statement, and it was a nervous start from both teams with the defences taking over.

They combined for just 32 points in the first quarter and 25 in the second with Rockingham going into half-time leading 32-25 with 38 per cent shooting to 26 despite missing all 10 three-point attempts while the Cougars were going 2/20.

That included Cierra Walker going 0/4 from three in the first half, but she went 3/6 in the third quarter and hit another 2/3 in the last term to be instrumental in the Cougars outscoring the Flames 50 to 37 in the second.

Cockburn ended up winning by six to improve to a 10-2 record with Rockingham now 11-3 to significantly heat up the race over top spot.

Walker finished the night going 5/13 from deep for 16 points with six rebounds, two assists and two steals while Daniel Raber added 16 points, 14 boards, four steals and two assists.

Jewel Williams also had 15 points, four rebounds and two assists, Jessie Edwards 10 points, three boards, three assists and two blocks, and Darcee Garbin nine points and two steals.

The Flames ended up shooting just 3/23 from downtown while having 20 turnovers, but that was without Amy Atwell who hasn’t returned just yet after winning silver at the 3x3 World Cup with the Australian Gangurrus.

Sara Puckett did finish with another 23 points, nine rebounds and two assists including having five of her team's 16 offensive boards.

Stef Berberabe added 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals, Teige Morrell 10 points, nine boards, two assists and two steals, Lesila Finau 10 points, six rebounds and three assists, and Tiana Wilson-Palmer nine points and three boards.

SATURDAY

South West Slammers (57) lost to East Perth Eagles (110)

The East Perth Eagles got back a lot closer to full strength and Sarah Mortensen, Brooke Malone and Sydney Wright all starred in a dominant 110-57 road win over the South West Slammers.

East Perth arrived at Eaton Recreation Centre losing both games of a double header last weekend to the Eastern Suns and Rockingham Flames, but that was without Stacey Barr, McKenna Dale, Jo Odude and Jaymie Symons.

Barr and Odude were both back on Saturday night against the Slammers and the Eagles started on fire with 33 points to 19 in the first quarter.

East Perth then had another 23 to nine in the second frame on the way to the 56-28 half-time advantage.

The Eagles remained in control through the second half with another 28 points to 14 in the third period and 26 to 15 in the fourth on the way to the eventual 53-point victory to retain their top four position with a 10-4 record.

Sarah Mortensen ended up with 25 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in the win for East Perth with Brooke Malone adding 24 points, 16 boards, three assists and three steals, and Sydney Wright 22 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Zaya Black was on her former home floor and had 11 points and five assists with Barr returning with 11 points, nine rebounds and five assists, and Jade Williams nine points and five boards.

The Slammers remain in bottom place having now lost four straight at 3-10 with Melanie Hoyt finishing with 29 points, seven rebounds and two steals on 14/22 field goal shooting.

Marshaun Bostic also had 11 points, four rebounds and four assists, and Bri Bailey eight points, six assists and five boards.

Goldfields Giants (67) lost to Warwick Senators (78)

A spot in the top four was up for grabs and with Chloe Forster and Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard combining for 41 points, the Warwick Senators took over in the second half for the 78-67 road win against the Goldfields Giants.

The Giants remained home at Kalgoorlie's Evolution Mining Stadium trying to bounce back from last week's loss to the defending champion Cockburn Cougars while the Senators arrived coming off a big win over the Joondalup Wolves.

The Senators did lose point guard Jayda Clark to a knee injury in that win and even with the encouraging news that she has just suffered bone bruising and not taken on any structural damage, she wasn’t out there for the clash with the Giants.

And the Giants were leading by three points at quarter-time and by seven at the half with front court pair Sierra Moore and Delaynie Byrne combining for 31 points.

But Warwick took charge from there outscoring Goldfields 38 points to 20 in the second half on 15/40 shooting with just the four turnovers but 11 offensive rebounds while the Giants shot just 6/28 as a team after half-time while having eight turnovers.

The win improves the Senators to a 10-4 record to retain touch with the top two teams with Chloe Forster finishing with 21 points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists with 8/8 free-throw shooting.

Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard ended up with 20 points and seven rebounds with 6/11 shooting from downtown while Greta Kampschroeder contributed 13 points, nine boards and six assists, and Kyana Weir 13 points with 4/9 shooting from beyond the arc.

Kiara Waite also had four points and 12 rebounds, and Nat Burton four points and 13 boards.

The Giants remain outside the top four now at 7-5 with Byrne finishing with 22 points and 12 rebounds with Moore adding 21 points, eight boards and five assists.

Chloe Zorzi added eight points and four rebounds, and Lexi Pana six points, 10 boards, three assists and three steals.

Lakeside Lightning (68) lost to Perth Redbacks (84)

Sam Ashby had another 32 points and Patty Brosmmann added 27 points and 13 rebounds as they made it a double win weekend beating the Perth Redbacks 84-68.

The Redbacks were fresh off the Friday night win against the Eastern Suns ahead of taking on the Lightning at Lakeside Recreation Centre who also had scored the Friday win against the Willetton Tigers.

Both teams are locked in a battle in the bottom part of the top eight heightening the stakes for the contest with the Redbacks taking charge to close the first quarter with a 13-0 run on the way to a 15-point advantage.

Perth were still leading 47-35 by half-time and then they remained that double-digit lead throughout the second half on the way to the 16-point road victory to make it a double win weekend and improve to 5-8 on the season.

Ashby continued her dazzling form with another 32 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and four steals on 11/20 shooting from the floor along with 7/9 at the foul line.

Brossmann came up big too with 27 points, 13 rebounds and five assists with Olivia Berry contributing 12 points and six boards, and Sophie Doran six points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists.

The Lightning split their weekend double to now sit at 6-8 with Esme Morales having another 21 points, three assists and two rebounds with 4/11 three-point shooting.

Sam Roscoe added 19 points, nine rebounds and two steals, Sam Lubcke 11 points, eight boards and two assists, and Delanie Crawford eight points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Perry Lakes Hawks (97) lost to Mandurah Magic (101)

The Perry Lakes Hawks did come storming home but the Mandurah Magic had built a 12-point lead with just over a minute to play to hold on for the crucial 101-97 victory.

The two teams did battle still at Bendat Basketball Centre even with the main Showcourt currently unavailable with the Magic trying to stay in touch of a top four spot and Perry Lakes attempting to break into the top eight.

That saw the Magic open up with 31 points to 18 in the first quarter with the visitors still leading 57-43 by half-time before Perry Lakes hit back with 28 to 20 in the third period.

Mandurah were then still leading 100-88 with just over a minute to play before the Mila Wawszkowicz completed a three-point play and Makenna Marisa hit from beyond the arc to keep things interesting.

Jade Gowland made a free-throw to put Mandurah back up seven and then Marisa hit a three on the buzzer which cut the Magic's winning margin to four in the finish.

The win improves Mandurah to an 8-5 record with three straight wins with Claire Jacobs producing 28 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals with 5/9 shooting from downtown.

Jade Gowland ended up with 24 points, five rebounds and four assists, Jordana Reisma 16 points, eight boards, three assists and two blocks, and Sharn Hayward 12 points, six assists and four rebounds.

Mikayla Pivec then only narrowly missed another triple double with 18 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Perry Lakes remain outside the top eight at 4-9 with Marisa delivering 35 points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals with 5/13 three-point shooting.

Bridgette Rettstatt had another 19 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two steals, Mila Wawszkowicz 18 points, four boards, four steals and two assists, and Maddy Zugna 12 points, two rebounds and two steals.