By David Tonks

Bearcats playing Coach Sam Woosnam shot her team to success when West claimed victory over the Sabres in a thrilling 66-62 result. In a high standard game where little separated the sides throughout the night there were 21 lead changes and the scores were locked on nine occasions. Woosnam fired up when it mattered most hitting 13 second half points, including three three-pointers in the desperate last quarter.

Saturday night's clash was expected to go down to the wire and the large crowd in attendance were not disappointed. In the first quarter the sides traded baskets with the Sabres intent on feeding the ball inside for centre Monique Bowley to go to work and score. She finished the term with 6 points to be the leading scorer in the first period. Irene Soulatzis and Meg McLeod for West, who both missed Round 18, were productive. Sourlatzis scored the first two baskets of the period and McLeod scored the last two including a three-pointer just before the quarter ended to see West up 19-18 at the break.

The second quarter was a struggle with both teams defending the keyway. West was only able to hit 5 shots for the quarter, two of those being threes. Sturt fared a little better when they were able to hit 7 shots from the floor and converted three free throws to claim a halftime lead, 35-31. By the long break Sturt players had taken 9 shots from the foul line but West Adelaide had failed to register a free throw shot from the charity stripe.

In the third period both teams scored 14 points with Trudy Holland and Woosnam both hitting threes before Sturt scored. Late in the term Monique Bowley scored consecutive baskets and a foul shot. Bree Farley was fouled on the buzzer and hit the two foul shots awarded to have the locals in front 49-45 at the last break.

In the first five minutes of the all important last quarter only Monique Bowley was able to score for the Sabres, but in the same period of time West's Ashlea Vordemaier, Nikita-Lee Martin, Trudy Holland, and Woosnam with two three-pointers all scored. With her first triple, her side reclaimed the lead 54-51, the second triple only widened the margin, West up 59-53. At 2:07 remaining Bowley hit her third basket of the quarter, but she was the only Sturt player to have scored in almost eight minutes of play, West in control, 61-55.

Sturt then bridged the gap with Kara Hargreaves scoring a basket and a foul shot, and when Caroline Burgess hit two free throws Sturt had closed to within 1 point, 60-61 with 1:13 left to play. Woosnam then hit her third three-pointer. In the desperate last seconds, Brigid Bowley scored, Sturt down by two, 64-62. Sturt was then forced to foul to stop the clock. In the bonus, West converted 2 of the 4 foul shots awarded claiming victory, 66-62 in a high standard and entertaining game.

West now tackles this week's second semi-final against the Forestville Eagles and Sturt faces a knock out first Semi-Final against the Southern Tigers.