ELIMINATION finals require some big individual performances, regardless of the league or sport, and in the NBL1 West Women’s, it was Sarah Toeaina that helped the Mandurah Magic past the Perry Lakes Hawks.

The two sides went head to head at Mandurah Aquatic & Rec Centre on Saturday night, with the loser of this contest seeing their season come to a premature end. Having qualified higher thanks to a record of 12 wins and eight losses, the Magic earned home court advantage, which is always a big factor in these sorts of games. On the other hand, Perry Lakes finished on 11 wins and nine losses, not far behind its opponent in this clash, so it was difficult to predict a heavy favourite.

It was a low-scoring start to the game, with just a combined 25 points poured in during the first term. Both teams were looking to lock in defensively, and it resulted in a tense beginning. However, the Magic got going after quarter time, finally getting going on the scoring front, while the Hawks’ offensive struggles continued.

Mandurah maintained control of the contest coming out of the main break, storming out to an unassailable lead, and while Perry Lakes managed to perform much better in the fourth, the damage was done as the home side cruised home to a 20-point win.

Toeaina was the leading offensive presence for the winning side, delivering one of her best performances in the NBL1 on the big stage.

Mandurah Magic (73) def. Perry Lakes Hawks (53)

Sarah Toeaina – 22 points, four rebounds, two assists, four steals

It was a seriously important performance from Toeaina, who led from the front and kept Mandurah’s season alive.

She registered 22 points for the match, which was the most of any player on the court in a blistering offensive display. When the Magic needed a spark to get going after a slow first quarte, it was the Washington native that turned it on.

She shot 8/18 from the field, pouring in baskets from all over the court and proving an unpredictable matchup for the defence to handle. Most of her shots came from two-point territory, looking to roll past the opposition and score at the hoop.

However, Toeaina did stretch the floor a bit and knock down a pair of three-pointers, which proved a little bit too much for whoever Perry Lakes matched up on her defensively.

She combined well with Katharine Tudor, who poured in 20 points and six rebounds of her own, as the team combined for over half of the team’s points.

The Magic will now get a chance to keep rolling when they take on the Joondalup Wolves in the semi-final, where Toeaina will likely play a key role.