Rnd 4: Yaeger & Thompson lead Eagles over fighting Sabres
By Mark Halliday
Forestville Eagles 81 | Sturt Sabres 70
The Forestville Eagles defeated a fighting Sturt Sabres team as Morgan Yaeger and Olivia Thompson combined for 48 points in an 81-70 win on Saturday afternoon at Wayville.
After a slow start, Forestville quickly equalised thanks to Yaeger's 11 first quarter points as both teams were locked into a tight contest through to half time with the Eagles on top 38-34.
The Eagles led by double digits multiple times during the third quarter but the Sabres fought back and threatened to take the lead midway through the period. Jade Johnson and Anne Hatchard both hit triples before Nicola Matthews shot with 4:18 left reducing an 11 point lead to just three.
Forestville emphatically responded outscoring Sturt 15-4 to close the third. Thompson proved difficult to slow down, scoring 13 points in the quarter including 6 straight points to close the third as the Eagles enjoyed a 14 point lead.
The Sabres once again made a run to try and get themselves back into the game. Despite Forestville's defence being suffocating on the inside, their outside defence was severely lacking. The Sabres took full advantage with Johnson, Hatchard, Matthews and Danni Angley all making threes to bring their team to within 9 points.
After a timeout the Eagles remedied their defensive issues as they didn't allow Sturt to get any closer, Yaeger's shot with 1:25 left in the game was enough to halt another run by the Sabres as her and Thompson closed out the game at the free throw line.
Yaeger led all scorers with 27 on 9-14 shooting and 8-11 from the line, Thompson scored 21 to go with 13 rebounds. Samantha Defrancesco finished with 14 points, 5 assists. Ruby Luders stat line doesn't show it but her impact on defence, plus her impressive 7 offensive rebounds, was crucial down the stretch for the Eagles.
For the Sabres, Angley finished with 14 points, 5 assists, Johnson went 3-5 from deep in her 13 points and Hatchard added 12 in the loss.
Round 5: Saturday, 16 April 2016 @ 6.30pm
Forestville Eagles v Southern Tigers at Morphett Vale
Sturt Sabres v Woodville Warriors at St Clair
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