Lightning get a win; Flames, Tigers move clear on top (Week 9 Women's SBL Wrap)
THE Rockingham Flames and Willetton Tigers moved clear on top of the women's SBL with Week 9 victories while the Cockburn Cougars went three games clear in eighth position and the Lakeside Lightning got their first win on the board for 2015.
The defending champion Flames as well as the Tigers both improved to 9-1 records with wins over the third and fourth place Joondalup Wolves and Mandurah Magic respectively over the weekend.
The Cougars also beat the Stirling Senators to open up a handy gap in eighth position to those chasing for a playoff berth while last year's grand finalists the Lightning finally got their first victory following nine straight losses to begin 2015.
The women's matches on Friday night saw the Soprano Designs Cockburn Cougars beat the Stirling Senators 90-73 at Wally Hagan Stadium and the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames defeat the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves 76-61 at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.
There were four women's matches on Saturday night with the Schweigen East Perth Eagles beating the Soprano Designs Cockburn Cougars 80-68 at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre, and the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers downing the Mandurah Magic 63-53 at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre.
The Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves also scored a big 94-51 over the Perry Lakes Hawks at Joondalup Basketball Stadium and the Lakeside Lightning defeated the Perth Redbacks 66-57 at Curtin Stadium.
The weekend's results leave the Orange Autos Rockingham (9-1) on top of the women's SBL but only narrowly ahead of the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers (9-1).
The Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves (8-2) are in third position followed by the Mandurah Magic (8-3), Perry Lakes Hawks (6-4), Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers (5-5), Kalamunda Eastern Suns (4-5) and Vorian Agency Cockburn Cougars (5-7).
Then outside the top eight are the Schweigen East Perth Eagles (2-8), Stirling Senators (2-8), Perth Redbacks (2-8) and Lakeside Lightning (1-9).
Once again there were some tremendous individual performances across Friday and Saturday nights as well starting with Samantha Whitcomb leading the way for the Flames on Friday finishing with 21 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and two steals while shooting 8-of-19 from the field and 5-of-11 from beyond the arc.
Darcee Garbin was again her partner in crime ending up with 14 points and 14 boards. Jacinta Bourne contributed 14 points, eight rebounds and four steals for Rockingham with Talisia Bourne adding 11 points, and Tarsha Fletcher 11 points and five assists.
Rebecca Mercer top-scored for the Wolves off the bench with 22 points while hitting 4-of-8 from three-point territory. Nikita-Lee Martin contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds as well for the Lady Wolfpack with Alex Kerr adding 10 points and Shani Amos seven to go with seven boards.
Playing-coach Deanna Smith led the way for the Cougars with 26 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds while shooting 10-of-17 from the floor.
Katie Loberg added 20 points and seven boards for Cockburn with Taryn Priestly adding 16 points and Abbie McDonald 10 points, four rebounds and two blocked shots off the bench.
Amber Land led the way with a massive triple-double for the Senators made up of 20 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists.
Fiona Madden added 16 points, four rebounds and two assists for Stirling with Tegan Walker contributing 16 points, six boards and three assists while Emma Berryman contributing 12 points.
And then on Saturday night, Nicole Jorre St Jorre stop-scored for the Eagles with 18 points to go with five rebounds and four assists in the win with Kelsey Maffin finishing with 16 points and 11 boards.
Jodee Santay contributed 14 points and five rebounds as well with captain Dannielle Devenny adding 15 points, five boards and three assists.
Playing-coach Deanna Smith did all she could for the Cougars with 27 points, eight rebounds and five assists with Taryn Priestly adding 12 points and six assists, and Katie Loberg 11 points.
Louella Tomlinson had another terrific game for Willetton with 21 points, an incredible 11 blocked shots, eight rebounds and three steals.
Zoe Harper contributed 17 points and six rebounds for the Tigers with Desiree Kelley adding eight points, seven boards and two assists.
Peyton Davis led the way for the Magic with 14 points and 13 rebounds with Casey Mihovilovich contributing 13 points, six boards and five assists, Ashlee Sidebottom 12 points and Emma Klasztorny 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals.
The Lady Wolfpack scored a thumping 43-point win over the Hawks also on Saturday night with the Wolves bouncing back in style from losing to the Rockingham Flames on Friday night.
Shani Amos top-scored for the Wolves with 19 points, six rebounds and six assists while shooting 7-of-10 from the floor, and 5-of-6 from beyond the arc.
Rebecca Mercer also had 18 points and six rebounds off the bench for the Lady Wolfpack with Casey Lockwood adding 10 points and four boards, and Chelsea Burns 10 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals.
Kassi Conditt worked hard for the Hawks finishing with 13 points and nine rebounds with Lucy Stewart adding 10 points and Lauren Jeffers eight.
The Lightning then finally got their first win of the season after nine consecutive losses coming off making last year's grand final.
Lakeside had come close on a host of occasions already this season, but then beat the Redbacks by nine points at Curtin Stadium on Saturday night with Perth having now lost five straight.
Ashleigh Grant had a massive night for the Lightning finishing with 29 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and two assists while shooting 12-of-19 from the field and 4-of-7 from three-point territory.
Courtney Byrnes added 15 points, nine boards and seven assists for Lakeside with Megan Craig contributing seven points and 10 boards off the bench.
Lauren Hall led the way for the Redbacks with 20 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists with Gaby Clayton adding 11 points and six boards, and Jess Jakens eight points, seven rebounds and three assists.
FRIDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Soprano Designs Cockburn Cougars 90 defeated Stirling Senators 73
Orange Autos Rockingham Flames 76 defeated Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves 61
SATURDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Schweigen East Perth Eagles 80 defeated Soprano Designs Cockburn Cougars 68
Mandurah Magic 53 lost to Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers 63
Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves 94 defeated Perry Lakes Hawks 51
Perth Redbacks 57 lost to Lakeside Lightning 66
Article by Chris Pike
Photo by HoopShots
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