NBL1 Central Round One Womens – Brittany best hits back in Warriors last quarter hold-off of Flames

It was a case of the MVP best hits as a stirring return of Brittany Hodges guided the Woodville Warriors to an 81-86 win over the Norwood Flames at the ARC.

Photo provided by Sport in Focus

3-Minute Read

In her return to the league for the first time since 2024 – the MVP was pivotal in the final term comeback for the Warriors over the Flames. It started tight with Hodges and Ambah Kowcun, the new skipper for the Warriors, hitting the scoreboard early. Import guard Dara Mabrey made a strong impression first up with a pair of triples echoing WNBA sister Marina & Notre Dame sister Michaela in her stead but forging her own path. In a night of returns former Forestville Eagle Amy Cotton (feature image) back from Houston Christian University made her mark on the match with some tough makes early and a long triple as both teams ended the first in a tight spot 21-23. 

Notre Dame Downloaded: Dara Mabrey touched down as one of three sisters from the famous basketball family as is looking to make an impression after her first NBL1 Central outing for the Norwood Flames – Photo supplied by Sports In Focus

Mabrey continued to be an issue in the second drawing fouls and continuously finding the charity stripe but another returnee in Taylor Ortlepp back from AFLW duties made a carpark deep triple for the Warriors to keep it moving forward for the yellow and green. The game did not move beyond the two basket mark in the second as blow for blow was traded by Annie Elliott & Caitlin Shillabeer off the back of a huge UBL season with the Adelaide Waatu and Naomi Allotey (five points, 10 rebounds & five assists) tying it all up 44-44 a piece at the half.

The push came from the home side in the third as they gathered momentum through dynamic guard Maddy Hinton, imports Mabrey and Cali Clark (Six points and rebounds) and Cotton as the Flames jumped out to a 14-6 start. The Warriors quickly reversed it with a tough Ortlepp drive and some more Kowcun free throws to level it up 58-58 a piece before sharp shooter Brook Silby entered the frame for the Flames with a heater from outside to push it back out to 63-58 with one to play.

In the final term with the game on the line 64-64 the two experienced heads of the Warriors took the game by the scruff of the neck in Ortlepp and Hodges as they combined for a final term haul to push the Warriors out to their biggest lead of the game 64-72 with a 0-12 run. The run was broken by another Waatu product in Jemima Whitton and some work from young debutant and recent Sapphire contender Lara Gribben but Ortlepp and Hodges continued to control proceedings but the Flames weren’t done yet.

Cotton continued to have an impact late with a tip in then finished the floater in transition and fed Shillabeer to cut it again to single digits. It was cut further by the Flames as Shillabeer hit another triple from outside as did Hinton to slash it to a single basket again 80-83. It took a steadying Hodges make to right the ship for the Warriors as they escaped the ARC with the win. 

Brittany Hodges was stirring in her return with player of the game honours with 30 points and nine rebounds as was Taylor Ortlepp with 21 points, five assists, four rebounds and steals. A step up for Kowcun saw her relish some new responsibility in the absence of 2025 championship players Jasmin Fejo and Erin Phillips with 20 points with four triples, four rebounds and three assists. 

The Flames for their first up effort with some new pieces would’ve been pleased with what they got from Amy Cotton with 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists, three steals backed up by the sharp shooting Shillabeer with 17 points at 4/7 from downtown & three rebounds. Hinton also hit the scoreboard throughout the night with 14 points, eight assists and new import Mabrey will only get stronger and better with 12 points, three assists and rebounds.

 The numbers that mattered 

  • The Warriors gained multiple additional possessions with 19 offensive rebounds to seven led by Naomi Allotey (5) and Hodges (4)
  • The Warriors however couldn’t capitalise on the outside triple with 26 percent on 8/30 from beyond
  • The Flames had 26 turnovers with three offensive foul turnovers in the final term
  • Taylor Ortlepp & Brttany Hodges had 9 points in the final term    

The Three Takeaways 

  • Amy Cotton is one of the local recruits of the season – both ends of the floor and physically strong and influential in contest 
  • Another AFLW player has an impact in a final quarter in Taylor Ortlepp 
  • Warriors have the pieces and balance to be top three – the Flames will be vast improvers and dangerous the more weeks go by

NORWOOD FLAMES 81 (COTTON 19, SHILLABEER 17, HINTON 14, MABREY 12) 

WOODVILLE WARRIORS 86 (HODGES 30, ORTLEPP 21, KOWCUN 20)

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