In front of 300+ spectators at Pasadena, the Forestville Eagles Women withstood a late charge from the Sabres to win 69-56.

In doing so, they moved a game clear of Sturt and all but cemented 2nd place on the Central ABL ladder, as well as posisble home court advantage in a likely double-chance final rematch in 5 weeks' time.

The game was physical from the outset, with both teams forced to advance the ball against full court pressure. On a number of occasions throughout the game, seemingly straightforward passes in the backcourt became deflections or turnovers, with both teams taking time to adjust to a level of intensity not usually seen a month before finals. Hard fouls were the norm rather than the exception, the most signficant being an unsportsmanlike on Dee Ranford midway through a Forestville run in the third quarter.

Forestville threatened to break away in the first quarter, and had a Jess Mahony three point attempt dropped, the lead would have been 9-2. Instead, It rimmed out, Sturt steadied, and kept it at 15-17 by quarter time.

The second quarter was similarly even, and when Jasmin Wong drew her second charge of the game late in the second, the scores were tied at 24.

It was not until midway through the third quarter that Forestville drew away. It did so gradually, with every posession hard fought, and although they led by 9 at 3/4 time, at no stage did it look easy.

Jess Mahony started the fourth quarter drawing a foul on a tough layup, to create the first double digit lead of the game, but Marino kept the Sabres in it with two three pointers on transition. However, with 5:27 left in the game, Forestville were already into the bonus, and when Mia Newley completed a screen and roll play with Dee Ranford with 4:20 left, the lead was 15 and the Eagles looked safe.

Sturt had other ideas. After a defensive stop, Brigid Bowley connected on a close jumper from a baseline play, then Wong forced another turnover which triggered a Sabre fast break, ending with Kara Hargreaves drawing a shooting foul. The lead became 7, but that was as close as it got, with Forestville steadying for a 13 point win.

Mia Newley, fresh from a bronze medal at the World University Games, led Forestville with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Jess Fergus had 13 points and Jess Mahony 11. For Sturt, Marino had 19 points and Brigid Bowley had 16.