Wolves step up for finals (Women's Preview)
Wanneroo were the only lower seeded side to win last weekend and now Rockingham, which finished the regular season in second spot, must win twice at home this week to advance.
The Flames were 9-2 at home this year so will be confident, but Wanneroo showed it has what it takes to advance to the semis with its 79-74 victory in game one of the best-of-three series.
The Wolves outscored Rockingham 40-27 after quarter-time in that game and the Flames will be desperate to avoid another fadeout.
Southside Mitsubishi Perth Redbacks took the upper hand in its series with Australian Central East Perth Eagles with a 54-47 victory in game one and has two chances to close out the series at home.
Perth will be heavily favoured given it went 8-3 at home for the regular season and has won five of its last six, but East Perth led the league for much of the season and could cause an upset.
Both teams struggled with free-throw shooting and turnovers in game one, but it was East Perth’s failure to hit a three-point shot that proved the difference, an area it must improve to have a chance in the deciding two games.
Southlands Willetton Tigers will secure a semi-final battle with the winner of Perth’s series with the Eagles if it closes out its series with eighth seed Lakeside Lightning.
The top side beat Lakeside in a 64-62 thriller last week and has two chances to win at home, where it is 10-1 for the year.
Lakeside showed it can match it with Willetton in its encouraging effort last week and can’t totally be discounted totally.
Total Connections Perry Lakes Hawks upset Mandurah Magic on the road last week and should advance to meet Rockingham or Wanneroo in the semis.
The third seeded Hawks were expected to lose game one at Mandurah, with the Magic 10-1 at home in the regular season, but its surprise 78-68 victory put it in a dominant position.
The Magic have won on the road just three times this year and are unlikely to win twice at Perry Lakes to advance.
Click here to read the full game by game previews.
Article by Jacob Kagi
Photo by Wayne Wright (Wayne Wright Photography)
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