Worthington lauds effort after two-game road series split

The Goldfields Giants women’s team grabbed a second NBL1 victory at the weekend on the road, but they have their work cut out for them in pursuit of a maiden finals berth after splitting their two-game series.

German international Anne Zipser racked up 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Ashlee Sidebottom contributed 14 points and five rebounds off the bench in the Giants’ 58-44 triumph against South West Slammers on Saturday.

It broke a three-game losing run, but their hopes of a series sweep were dashed on Sunday in an 80-68 loss to Mandurah.

In game two, Jhazmin Joson led the way with 20 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals, and Zipser was on song with 16 points and seven rebounds.

However, their work was offset by the Magic’s Donica Ayana Cosby’s game-high 24 points as the home team grabbed a fourth win.

Giants coach Jaymi Worthington said Sunday’s game was tougher than expected against an opposition line-up bolstered by several experienced players.

However, she said she liked the overall effort.

“I’m happy with the direction we’re going in because I generally thought we played very well against Mandurah,” she said.

“We’d expected to beat the Slammers on Saturday, but it was an aggressive, physical game, and the question was how we’d pull up from that.

“We didn’t get the win on Sunday, but we made quite a few adjustments against what was a very good Mandurah side.

“I felt we really took it up to them until three-quarter-time, but didn’t have the legs in the last quarter and couldn’t sustain the effort.

“Our defence was better, but they just had those extra players come in which decided things.

“But our girls toiled hard all game.”

The Giants are in 10th place — three games and percentage outside the top eight.

However, Worthington said the stage was set to hopefully make up valuable ground in the standings with their next three games on their home court.