WILLETTON, Perry Lakes, South West and Mandurah all continued their impressive starts to the women's SBL season on the weekend while Lakeside's beginning went from bad to worse with a big Friday night loss to the Perth Redbacks.

The Tigers, Hawks, Slammers, Rockingham Flames and Magic all remain unbeaten after two rounds of the 2015 season with the Cougars also looking impressive while at the other end of the spectrum, the East Perth Eagles, Lightning and Kalamunda Eastern Suns remain the only three teams without a win.

The women's SBL action on Friday night saw the Perth Redbacks stun the Lakeside Lightning with a 68-36 victory at Lakeside Recreation Centre while the Perry Lakes Hawks beat the Cockburn Cougars 81-74 at Wally Hagan Stadium.

The three women's matches on Saturday night saw the South West Slammers beat the East Perth Eagles 54-51 at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre, the Cockburn Cougars down the Stirling Senators 54-45 at Warwick Leisure Centre and the Joondalup Wolves had a big 93-50 win over the Kalamunda Eastern Suns at Ray Owen Sports Centre.

There were two women's matches on Sunday to conclude the second round of the season with the Mandurah Magic beating the Stirling Senators 68-58 at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre and the Willetton Tigers defeating the East Perth Eagles 72-56 at Willetton Basketball Stadium.

At the end of two rounds, the Willetton Tigers, Perry Lakes Hawks, South West Slammers and Mandurah Magic all hold 2-0 records followed by the Rockingham Flames (1-0), Cockburn Cougars (2-1), Joondalup Wolves (1-1) and Perth Redbacks (1-1).

The Stirling Senators (1-2), East Perth Eagles (0-4), Lakeside Lightning (0-3) and Kalamunda Eastern Suns (0-2) are then outside the top eight.

Again there were some stunning individual showings across the weekend in the women's action

On Friday night, Gabby Clayton led the way for the Redbacks with 15 points, six rebounds, five steals and two assists. Lauren Hall also contributed a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds while Jessica Jakens finished with 13 points, six boards and four assists.

It was a tough night for the Lightning as they finished the game with 26 turnovers, 19 fewer rebounds and horror shooting percentages of 15-of-63 at 23.8 per cent from the field and 3-of-26 at 11.5 per cent from three-point range.

Amanda Pether top-scored for Lakeside with 13 points while Ashleigh Grant added eight points and 11 rebounds.

Lauren Jeffers led Perry Lakes with 19 points, eight assists, three rebounds and three steals while import Kassi Conditt was impressive with 16 points, nine boards, three steals and two assists while shooting 8-of-14 from the field.

Cockburn playing-coach Deanna Smith again did all she could to lead her team on and off the court finishing with 27 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals. She might have only shot 4-of-14 from the floor, but got to the line plenty and converted 16-of-18 at the stripe.

 

And on Saturday night, Deanica McCormick had a massive game for the Slammers ending up with 31 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and three assists while shooting 13-of-26 from the field.

She was the only player to score in double-figures for South West but Patricia Bright had a significant impact with five points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots. Kate Fielding added seven points, five rebounds, three assists and three blocks off the bench as well.

Kelsey Maffin worked hard for the Eagles with 14 points, 11 rebounds and three assists with Dannielle Devenny adding 12 points and nine boards off the bench.

Deanna Smith came off the bench for Cockburn but the playing-coach still played 28 minutes and finished with a game-high 22 points, four rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

Chelsea Evans was the only other Cougars player scoring in double-figures with 11 points, six rebounds and four assists.

Amber Land had a strong game for the Senators with 19 points and six rebounds with Emma Berryman adding 12 points off the bench. Tegan Walker also contributed seven points and five assists.

Five Joondalup players scored in double-figure with Nikita-Lee Martin finishing with 14 points (six rebounds, six assists), Rebecca Mercer 13 points, Ellyce Ironmonger 12 (six boards), Casey Lockwood 12 (10 rebounds) and Nonila Martin 10.

Jessie Edwards finished with 16 points and six rebounds for the Suns with Melissa Moyle adding 12 points and six boards, and Madeleine Dennis 12 points and eight rebounds.

And finally on Sunday, Casey Mihovilovich again led the way for the Magic with 12 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Emma Klasztorny contributed 12 points as well as four steals and three rebounds for Mandurah with Ashlee Sidebottom finishing with 10 points, 10 boards and three assists.

Shelley Boston also had seven points, 10 rebounds and four assists for Mandurah and Briana Klasztorny seven points, 10 boards, four assists and two steals.

Emma Berryman had a strong game for the Senators finishing with 19 points with Amber Land adding 16 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Tegan Walker also had 15 points, five boards, three assists and two steals. However, Walker and Land also combined for 19 of Stirling's 24 turnovers.

Louella Tomlinson put in a match-winning performance for the Tigers with 20 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocked shots.

Ebony Antonio added 12 points and four boards for Willetton while Lara Napier had nine points, Kate Malpass eight, Lisa Wallbutton eight (12 rebounds, four assists) and Zoe Harper seven.

Haylee DeSousa finished with 15 points for East Perth with Denielle Lipscombe adding 13 points and five rebounds.

FRIDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Lakeside Lightning 36 lost to Perth Redbacks 68
Cockburn Cougars 74 lost to Perry Lakes Hawks 81

SATURDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
East Perth Eagles 51 lost to South West Slammers 54
Stirling Senators 45 lost to Cockburn Cougars 54
Kalamunda Eastern Suns 50 lost to Joondalup Wolves 93

SUNDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Mandurah Magic 68 defeated Stirling Senators 58
Willetton Tigers 72 defeated East Perth Eagles 56

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Mick Cronin