West Wrap | Women's Round 18

Featured image: Deacon Matthews | @deacs.jpg

Kim Pierre-Louis dominated to lift Joondalup Wolves into the NBL1 West playoffs with a win over Mandurah with Sarah Mortensen hitting a stunning game winner for East Perth Eagles over Cockburn Cougars, and Goldfields Giants held on for a home final.

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FRIDAY

Willetton Tigers (75) lost to Kalamunda Eastern Suns (94)

The Eastern Suns close the regular season as the form team in the competition of anyone below the top two teams by making it four straight victories with the 94-75 win against the Willetton Tigers.

There was still some hope for the Suns to reach the playoffs should they beat the Tigers at Willetton Basketball Stadium and if one of the Lakeside Lightning or Joondalup Wolves lost ahead of them.

They just had to take care business themselves first while Willetton were trying to end their frustrating season on a high note and they did have an early seven-point leader before Kalamunda responded with a 9-0 run to be leading 21-15 by quarter-time.

The Tigers did work back on top again with 30 points to 17 in the second term and went into half-time leading 45-38 as a result but the swings continued after the break.

The Eastern Suns delivered 31 points to 16 in the third quarter to turn that seven-point deficit into an eight-point advantage by three quarter-time.

The Suns were able to go on with the job from there with 25 points to 14 in the last quarter to secure the 19-point victory to end the season with four straight wins in ninth position with an 8-12 record.

Trista Hull had a monster performance with 26 points and 26 rebounds to go with five assists and two steals on shooting 9/15 from the field and 8/9 at the foul line.

Gaby Bronson also had 25 points, four assists and three rebounds, Alyssa Bowen 13 points, seven boards and two steals, Denae Civich 13 points, four assists and three rebounds, and Kayla Kiriau nine points, seven steals, four boards and two assists.

Willetton end their season at 4-16 for their worst ever finish in the SBL/NBL1 West with Emma Gandini finishing with 14 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists, Remy Hearn 13 points, six boards and six assists, and Nija Collier 12 points, 11 rebounds and three assists.

Rockingham Flames (102) defeated Perth Redbacks (91)

The Rockingham Flames will go into the finals from second position with a five-game winning streak after the 102-91 home win over the Perth Redbacks.

The Flames had already locked away second position coming into the last game of the regular season hosting a Redbacks team who would have needed a minor miracle to make the playoffs.

They did battle at Mike Barnett Sports Complex and it was quite the scintillating first quarter with the two teams combining for 63 points and the Redbacks leading 32-31 by the end of it.

Perth did manage to open up a nine-point lead in the second quarter too before still going into half-time with the slender 52-50 advantage.

Rockingham took over in the third frame with 24 points to 16 and then 28 to 23 in the fourth on the way to the 11-point win to make if five in-a-row and finish second at 16-4 and setting up a home qualifying final next Saturday night against the East Perth Eagles.

Stef Berberabe produced 23 points, five assists, five steals and three rebounds with 3/6 from the outside for the Flames with Sara Puckett adding 21 points, 16 rebounds and two assists, and reigning MVP Teige Morrell 19 points and eight boards.

Tiana Wilson-Palmer also had 17 points, six assists and five rebounds, the retiring Shani Amos nine points, two assists and two steals, and Aysha Kemp nine points and five rebounds.

The season for the Redbacks is over at 7-13 having lost their past three and they had to do it again without both Sam Ashby and Patty Brossmann.

Nyamer Diew did put up 26 points, eight rebounds, four steals and three assists with Olivia Berry contributing 17 points on 3/6 three-point shooting, Alaska Rhebok 15 points, three rebounds and three assists, and Shenae Hartree 11 points, eight boards and three steals.

Lakeside Lightning (99) defeated South West Slammers (61)

The Lakeside Lightning locked away their finals position officially with the 99-61 home win to close the regular season against the South West Slammers.

The Lightning just had to win and there was no chance they could miss the finals as they hosted a Slammers team on a 10-game losing streak at Lakeside Recreation Centre.

Lakeside did come into the game having dropped their past couple to still mean they had to win to 100 per cent confirm a top eight finish and the Lightning started well at home with 22 points to 15 in the first quarter on the back of an 11-0 scoring run.

It was another 28 points to 13 in the second term and the Lightning's lead got to out to as much as 22 points and that where it was by half-time with the scoreline 50-28.

That lead then got out to 39 points in the third frame for Lakeside with them putting up another 30 points to 13 and then completing the deal on the 38-point win.

That sees Lakeside finish in seventh position at 9-11 and they will now head to Kalgoorlie to take on the Goldfields Giants in an elimination final this Saturday night.

Sam Roscoe delivered 24 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and two assists on 4/10 three-point shooting for the Lightning with Delanie Crawford adding 18 points, 11 assists, five rebounds and three steals.

Kiriana Hawaikirangi 14 points, five rebounds and two assists, Esme Morales 11 points, five assists, four boards and two steals, Sam Lubcke 10 points, four rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks, and Tayah Morgan nine points and two assists.

The season is now over for the Slammers at 3-17 having lost their last 11 matches with Melanie Hoyt top scoring with 17 points, eight rebounds and two assists with Casey Paea adding 16 points, eight assists, four boards and two steals.

Joondalup Wolves (86) defeated Mandurah Magic (78)

The Joondalup Wolves had to beat the Mandurah Magic to confirm their finals place and they did that with coming back from 14 points down with Kim Pierre-Loius delivering 33 points and the two teams will now do it all again in an elimination final.

The Wolfpack were hosting the Magic at Arena Joondalup with Mandurah locked into fifth position having won eight of their last nine games while the home team had to win to make sure they would be part of the playoffs.

Joondalup did start well to be leading by six points during the first quarter but Mandurah took over in the second frame with 30 points to 21 to go into the half-time break leading 49-43.

That Magic lead then blew out to 14 points in the third quarter but with their season potentially on the line, the Wolves fired back to cut the Mandurah lead to 69-59.

That left the Wolves with plenty to do but they were up to the challenge with 27 points to nine in the last quarter on the way to the eight-point victory that sees them finish in eighth position with a 9-11 record.

Mandurah remains fifth at 13-7 and that means the two teams face another once more on Friday night in an elimination final at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre.

Kim Pierre-Louis should be on track for recognition at the awards now on Saturday night after completing her standout season with Joondalup finishing with 33 points and seven rebounds with 14/20 field goal shooting.

Rosie Deegan also continues to make a significant impact in her return with 19 points, five rebounds and two assists with Yemiyah Morris adding 14 points, 13 boards and five assists, Asianae Johnson seven points and two rebounds, and Awatea Leach six points, nine assists, five boards and two steals.

Mia Jacobs finished with another 21 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals for Mandurah with Mikayla Pivec adding 20 points, 14 boards, eight assists and four steals, Claire Jacobs 15 points and four rebounds, and Sharn Hayward nine points and four assists.

East Perth Eagles (82) defeated Cockburn Cougars (81)

Sarah Mortensen starred in two championships for the Cockburn Cougars but had a moment she'll treasure forever hitting the stunning walk off game winner as the East Perth Eagles won 82-81.

It was the final game of the regular season for both teams as they prepare to tackle the finals from top four positions as they locked horns at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.

The Cougars went through an undefeated season in 2025 winning the championship and now have already locked in top spot coming into the final round having won nine straight matches.

The Eagles were back home where they were 8-1 on the season and sitting in third position and did need to win to ensure they stay there going into the finals.

Despite being locked into top spot no matter the result, Cockburn did have the better of the start away from home with 19 points to 16 in the opening quarter.

The Cougars then took control in the second period with 25 points to 12 and Jessie Edwards then already had 22 points to half-time with Cockburn leading 44-28.

The Cockburn lead was out to 21 points early in the third quarter but then the Eagles fired back into the contest led by captain Stacey Barr who was up to 18 points suddenly by three quarter-time.

It was then a rollercoaster ride in the fourth quarter with Cockburn going back up six when Edwards scored again with a minute to play before the Eagles forced a couple more turnovers and Mortensen scored against her old team.

Another turnover led to two free throws for Sydney Wright before Wright drew the charge on Daniel Raber in the paint which gave East Perth the chance at the winner with 5.5 seconds on the clock.

Coming out of a Jonelle Morley timeout, the ball got to Mortensen right in front of the Cougars bench who she played in championships with in 2023 and 2025.

Her three-point bomb never looked like missing as she buried her former team and secured the one-point win in remarkable fashion to secure East Perth in third position at the end of the regular season with a 15-5 record and going 9-1 at home.

Eagles captain Stacey Barr top scored once more with 21 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds and two steals with 6/19 three-point shooting.

On top of her game winner, Mortensen produced 19 points and 10 rebounds while Jade Williams provided 16 points, six boards, three steals and two assists, Brooke Malone 12 points and three rebounds, and Sydney Wright 12 points, five assists and three steals.

Darcee Garbin finished with 24 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds with Jessie Edwards adding another 27 points and eight boards on 12/16 shooting, and Daniel Raber yet another triple double with 16 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists.

SATURDAY

Warwick Senators (87) defeated Goldfields Giants (67)

The Warwick Senators have confirmed a third straight top four finish with the 87-67 Saturday win against a Goldfields Giants team also having confirmed their finals place.

It was the last game of the regular season at Warwick Stadium on Saturday and both teams couldn’t really move from fourth and sixth respectively but still wanted to entire the finals with some winning momentum.

It was a flying start on their home floor from the Senators with 25 points to 10 on the back of going on a 15-0 run and opening up an 18-point lead.

That lead grew to 20 in the second term and Warwick were still leading 43-27 by half-time before the Senators remained in control the rest of the way with another 11-0 run in the fourth term to lead by as much as 28.

Warwick went on to win by 20 to complete the regular season at 14-6 in fourth position for a third straight top four finish after making the Grand Final in 2025 and bowing out in straight sets in 2024.

Greta Kampschroeder top scored for the Senators with 21 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists with 4/7 three-point shooting.

Jayda Clark is working back nicely from a knee injury with 20 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks with Chloe Forster adding 19 points, eight assists, four boards and three steals, and Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard 17 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Goldfields still remain in sixth position at 9-11 to qualify for the first ever time and earn a home final back in Kalgoorlie on Saturday night against the Lakeside Lightning.

Delaynie Byrne top scored with 22 points and 12 rebounds on 11/13 free-throw shooting for the Giants where MVP favourite Sierra Moore delivering 21 points, 10 boards, three assists and two steals, Hazelle Yam six points and three assists, Lexi Pana six points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals, and Rachel Pettit six points in her 249th game.