Posted on 6 May, 2019

Another hot shooting outing has seen the NBL1 Cobra Women win their second straight game, blowing out the Southern Sabres, 92-60 at home on Sunday.

Following a sluggish start, the Cobras got rolling after quarter time, taking a double-digit lead into halftime before blowing the game wide open after the break. The Cobras scored on 13 of their first 15 possessions after halftime to take a 17 point lead into the final stanza, then their defence took over late, holding the Sabres to just seven fourth quarter points to record their second consecutive 30-plus point victory.

Cobras head coach Sam Woosnam was pleased with her group’s defensive effort for the second straight game, with Sunday’s affair almost mirroring last week’s score when the Cobras held Melbourne to just 64 points in another 32 point win. Woosnam’s Cobras were able to shut down Sabres star Rachel Jarry, holding the Olympian to a season-low nine points and frustrating her into six turnovers.

“Defense is our main focus right now; we have a lot of versatile defenders on our team so we want to work towards mixing up our defence constantly,” Woosnam said.

“We still have a way to go however we are starting to gel and really understand how we need to play.”

While their defence was impressive for the second game in a row, so too was the Cobras shooting from the perimeter. After burying a season-best 16 three pointers against Melbourne, the Cobras were money from deep once again on Sunday, going 10-for-23 from downtown while shooting 52 percent from the field overall.

Klara Wischer was outstanding in the Cobras win, posting 24 points and six rebounds in just 24 minutes, Kara Tessari recorded her second-straight 20 point outing, finishing with 21 points and four rebounds, Clare Camac was dominant to close the game, scoring 12 of her 19 points in the final four minutes, and star guard Lauren Nicholson battled early foul trouble to finish with 10 points and five assists.

While the Cobras stars shone bright for a second straight game, Woosnam was pleased with the contributions from her team as a whole. Veterans Emily Fryters and Alison Downie, and import Sarah Boothe were keys in the Cobras stifling defensive effort, while Kilsyth junior Sarah Haberfield recorded career-highs of six points and three assists, while new recruit Taylor Mathers also added six points and pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.

“Over the past two weeks we have had valuable contributions from everyone on the team, and this needs to be something we focus on and be consistent with moving forward,” Woosnam added.

“We have always said our group has great potential, and to see glimpses of the group can do together is really pleasing and exciting.”

The Cobras will look to make it three straight wins on Saturday, when they play host to the Ballarat Rush in the NBL1 Game of the Week (5.30pm/7.30pm). Saturday night is also our annual Junior Domestic Night, with all Kilsyth Junior Domestic players who wear their club gear receiving FREE ENTRY to both the Women’s and Men’s game on Saturday.