NBL1 West Recap | Friday Women's Round 4

There was just the one game on Friday night to open Round 4 of the NBL1 West Women's season and what a terrific seesawing battle it was in the Battle of Joondalup between the Joondalup Wolves and Warwick Senators.

Both teams brought some impressive form into the Friday night NBL1 West battle at HBF Arena and they didn’t fail to deliver. 

The Senators went up seven during the first quarter but by midway through the second quarter it was the Wolfpack with a 15-point advantage. The game then took another twist and it was Warwick turning the tide to be leading by five up until midway through the fourth quarter.

The final turn of the game, though, went the favour of the Wolves and they finished strongly to score the 92-87 win on their home floor against the Senators.

Nes'eya Williams had a massive night for Joondalup with 34 points and 17 rebounds with Teige Morrell adding 20 points, 14 rebounds and five assists. Stacey Barr was also huge for the Senators with 36 points.

Round 4 will continue on Saturday night highlighted by Casey Mihovilovich breaking the all-time games record for the league when she represents the Mandurah Magic for a 513rd time at home to the East Perth Eagles.

The Willetton Tigers will also be hosting the South West Slammers with the Goldfields Giants also at home to the Rockingham Flames and the Lakeside Lightning facing the Perth Redbacks and the Kalamunda Eastern Suns battling the Perry Lakes Hawks.

NBL1 WEST – 2022 WOMEN'S SEASON
ROUND 4 – FRIDAY NIGHT

JOONDALUP WOLVES 92 defeated WARWICK SENATORS 87

There was just the one game on Friday night in Round 4 of the NBL1 West competition and it was always going to be a terrific contest in the Battle of Joondalup at HBF Arena.

The two local rivals the Joondalup Wolves and Warwick Senators have both started the 2022 NBL1 West season impressively and they put on an exciting, seesawing battle on Friday night.

The Wolfpack under new coach Marcus Wong have started the season brilliantly on the back of reaching last year's Grand Final scoring wins against the Willetton Tigers, Kalamunda Eastern Suns and Perry Lakes Hawks.

The Senators too have started the new season impressively with wins against the Hawks, Perth Redbacks and Eastern Suns so both teams were putting their undefeated records on the line on Friday night at HBF Arena.

It turned out to be a fascinating battle with the Senators racing to a 12-4 lead with Chloe Forster and Alyssa Duncan both knocking down three balls.

However, with the powerful presence of Teige Morrell down low for the Wolves, they were able to turn the tide and assume the lead and go into quarter-time narrow 24-23 leaders.

By four minutes into the second quarter, Joondalup was out to a double-figure advantage with some impressive work from Nes'eya Williams. The lead got out to as much 15 points heading towards half-time and by the main break the Wolfpack were in control 53-41.

Forster then came down to knock down nine quick points to bring the Senators back in the contest in the first four minutes of the second half. Stacey Barr put up five rapid points too, and then when Duncan also connected from deep, it was Warwick in front getting close to three quarter-time.

However, by the end of three scores were all locked away at 69-69 before the Senators hit the first four points of the fourth quarter thanks to Barr.

A triple from Barr had Warwick still leading by five with six minutes to play and a minute later the visitors still led by five thanks to a three-point play from Barr.

It was the Wolfpack's turn to fire back with a nice bucket from Morrell before a three-point bomb from Robbi Ryan. Shani Caldwell then put the Wolves in front and Ryan extended the lead and they went on to win 92-87 from there to stay undefeated in 2022.

It was a dominant rebounding performance from Joondalup as they pulled in 58 boards to 37 from the Senators including 29 offensive rebounds to 13. The Wolves also dished out 21 assists opposed to 10, and took 17 extra field goals for the evening.

Nes'eya Williams might very well have played the best game of her NBL1 career on Friday night putting up 34 points and 17 rebounds for the Wolfpack.

Teige Morrell was a strong presence too with 20 points, 14 rebounds and five assists with Robbi Ryan contributing 19 points, six boards and four assists, Chelsea Belcher seven points and two assists, and Shani Caldwell six points and five rebounds.

Stacey Barr came up huge for Warwick with 36 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals with Chloe Forster adding 23 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Nat Burton put up 10 points and nine rebounds for the Senators, and Alyssa Duncan 10 points and three boards but they dearly missed the COVID affected Nicole Jorre de St Jorre and Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard.