Round 7 – Waatu women show future promise in prideful showing

Norwood Flames Jemima Whitton was productive across both fixtures including getting a start in the final match - Photo provided by AU

Waatu women show future promise in prideful showing

The Waatu women hung tough for a half against a well-drilled UNSW before falling in the second half 78-54 at Alexandria. It was done by committee by UNSW in their final game of their inaugural season in the league with six players reaching double figures.   

Both teams went miss for miss in the opening four minutes with Caitlin Brines (11 points) and Meaza Otto (6 points) finally opening the score for both teams respectfully. Eleanor Pinkerton was strong in the paint for the home side registering three blocks in the opening quarter. A timeout called by coach Lachlan Coppick saw the Waatu reverse the trend, reeling off a quick 0-5 run to end the term all level 15-15.    

The second stanza was a dominant start from UNSW with guard Heather Smith (10 points, seven rebounds and five assists) taking control of the contest both with ball in hand and setting up others. Alice Sabine tried to get out on the fastbreak, continuously getting able support from Georgia Winter and Jemima Whitton. Brines however continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over as the home side led 32-29 just over the Waatu at the break.

An early finish from four offensive rebounds in a row to the Waatu with Winter the benefactor was about the only glimmer in the third. UNSW through Jasinta Haydardedeoglu (12 points and six rebounds) and team piled on a 22-10 term and was compounded by Waatu centre Petra Rychtarcikova fouling out to leave the Waatu small under the basket.  

With the damage seemingly done – the Waatu played freely running up a 0-7 run through Sabine and Otto to open the fourth. The home side resettled through Emily Nguyen and Haydardedeoglu sealing the win with plenty of minutes to play.

Nguyen led all scorers with 13 points and nine rebounds (four offensive) and along with Pinkerton with 12 points, 18 rebounds (seven offensive) and a huge seven blocks set up the win for the home side. Winter was terrific for the Waatu with 17 points and five rebounds as was Sabine with 13 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and steals and Whitton who just missed a double double with eight points, four steals and 10 rebounds. 

The Waatu brought what they produced in the first half for longer the next day as they took on USYD again one of the top sides of season 2024 at USYD Stadium.      

Against a powerful side coach Lachlan Coppick threw Whitton into the starting five and it paid dividends early at both ends of the floor. Alex Kayrouz, so impressive to watch in 2023 opened proceedings and was well supported by Lauryn Walker – a Sophia Hanna cut and score triggered an early timeout to Coppick and the Waatu. Sabine relished the moment, getting a transition score then cutting through the key for another then shortly followed it up with a hard drive on a scoop layup. She also just missed another transition layup on the buzzer of quarter time with 16-12 the final scoreline for the quarter.

Waatu burst out of the blocks in the second with Petra Rychartickova powering up for two, Winter making a corner triple and Sophie Hampel making a scoop layup finish to leave it 18-19. The Renee Garlepp coached side put the onus on Caitlyn Martin and Holly Wills (15 points with three triples) but equally impressive was Sabine with some and1 finishes, offensive glass work with soft touch finishes that kept the Waatu in it 31-29. The first half was arguably the most impressive of the season.

Both teams hit back at each other early in the third with the Ws of Whitton and Winter keeping the Waatu in touch. It took Martin again and Wills triple to put breathing space between them and the Waatu that refused to go away 56-48 at end of three.

The opening two and a half minutes might have finally broken the resistance with Wills hitting  consecutive triples and Alex Oliver (11 points and eight rebounds) not getting any smaller as the game rolled along to push USYD out to 64-51. Winter hit a huge long bomb but Martin and Kayrouz’s class shone through in the final term with the latter collecting nine points. The final scoreline 89-59 was not reflective of the strong three quarter effort by the Waatu in their final game of the season.

Martin was all control at the point position with 16 points, 10 assists and six steals with Kayrouz finishing with 15 points, four assists and steals. The complete games of Sabine (18 points, 14 rebounds with seven offensive and fours assists) and Winter (21 points with six triples and seven rebounds) kept the Waatu in it for a long period of time.

While the Waatu women’s season finishes it produced the strongest performance of a UBL campaign in their short existence in the league. Next year looms as a big game changer with plenty of talent entering their first year of university with many likely to be back for another swing at it in UBL 2025. 

RD 7 Women UNSW 78 (Nguyen 13, Haydardedeoglu, Pinkerton 12, Brines 11, Bidwell, Smith 10) defeated AU Waatu 54 (Winter 17, Sabine 13, Whitton 8)

RD 7 Women USYD 89 (Martin 16, Kayrouz, Wills 15, Walker 14, Oliver 11) defeated AU Waatu 54 (Winter 21, Sabine 18, Whitton 7)

Catch all of the Waatu’s Women’s games from the season on Uni Sports TV

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