Despite the loss to the Maali - the "Waatu" Woman are playing some highly competitive basketball in season 2023 and with a few more games remaining can climb to a higher finish than 2022. Photo supplied by Adelaide University Sport
Super slammer takes out Waatu for Maali
The Waatu Women came in undersized against a UWA Maali team hungry for its first win of 2023 and the home side delivered 79-47 at the HBF Arena in Joondalup.
South West Slammer Abbey Hall had a mammoth start and game nailing 30 points and collecting 16 rebounds in her double double. Captain of the Maali Rose Rixon added 12 points and Jess Dauth clocked a handy eight points, 14 rebounds and five assists. The Waatu were led by Tamika Reid (Bachelor of Arts) with nine points, seven rebounds and Ash Haigh (Occupational Therapy) with eight points and ten rebounds – but no Waatu player could reach double figures.
The Maali got off to a quick 11-0 start against the Waatu missing Scarlett Miles – settling with a couple of baskets and getting some transition scores to pull it back to 22-11 at the first change with Hall already up to 12. Hall continued to push the margin out despite some fight from Reid and Jo Harris (Civil Engineering) but the Waatu trailed 41-18 at half time.
Despite a scrappy third term the Waatu hung with the Maali keeping them close in the term but foul trouble gifted the Maali multiple trips to the free throw line. The Maali controlling it 60-29 after three quarters but led by Haigh the Waatu came up with a competitive final quarter 19-18 to finish the final quarter.
Tiger tears Waatu in third straight win
A Willetton Tiger was the obstacle for the Waatu as Thomas Gerovich lit up AU early in his side third win in a row 103-72 at HBF Arena in Joondalup.
Gerovich finished with 27 points at 75 percent, eight rebounds and four assists with another Hawk doing damage from beyond with four triples in Kyiah O’Donohue’s 16 points. The Waatu got a tremendous game from Lachlan Hunter with 27 points, five rebounds and three steals in a class showing for the Civil engineering student but missed the contribution of Harry Reemst (chemical engineer) who sustained an injury mid-contest.
An 11-2 start for the Maali via Perry Lake Hawks Kyiah O’Donohue who helped them drain five triples in a row – 28-13 quarter time lead along with Gerovich (19-point first half). The Waatu fought back in the second through West Adelaide Bearcats Lachlan Hunter and a few late triples to close it to 49-38 at the half. Harry Reemst who had been a start for the Waatu first half of the season sustained an arm injury late in the second to rule him out for the game with Gerovich taking it away from the Waatu but Toby Hunt gave them a glimmer of hope at three quarter time 80-61.
The Waatu started the final quarter solid looking to complete but the Maali who were on a winning streak took over the final quarter in the finish.
Catch the Waatu Wednesday back at home as they take on the Curtin Uni Carnaby’s in Round 6 on Uni Sports TV from 11:00am SA Time …
RD 5 Women UWA Maali 79 (Hall 30, Rixon 12, Cleland, Enright 10, Dauth, Meares 8) defeated AU Waatu 47 (Reid, Haigh 9, Harris 8, Francis, Lovell 8)
RD 5 Men UWA Maali 103 (Gerovich 27, Floyd 18, Donohue 16) defeated AU Waatu 72 (Hunter 27, Hunt 14, Reemst 8)
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