THE Joondalup Wolves scored a win over the defending champion Rockingham Flames as the Willetton Tigers kept winning to remain on top of the Women's SBL after Week 9 of the 2016 season.

It was a fascinating weekend in the Women's SBL with the Lady Wolfpack beating the two-time reigning champs from Rockingham while the Perry Lakes Hawks and Perth Redbacks went 1-1 as they look to challenge the top three teams.

The action began on Friday night with the Perry Lakes Hawks defeating the Lakeside Lightning 84-80, the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves downing the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames 65-54 and the Textile WA Perth Redbacks winning an overtime thriller 94-93 over the Bethanie Stirling Senators.

On Saturday night, the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers beat the Print Sync South West Slammers 87-45, the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves downed the Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles 71-48 and the Mandurah Magic defeated the Textile WA Perth Redbacks 79-70.

Finally on Sunday, the Kalamunda Eastern Suns scored a big win 93-58 over the Perry Lakes Hawks at Ray Owen Sports Centre.

Following nine weeks of the 2016 season, the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers (9-1) sit atop the standings ahead of the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves (7-1) and Orange Autos Rockingham Flames (9-2).

The Perry Lakes Hawks (7-3) sit in fourth place with the Textile WA Perth Redbacks (5-5), Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars (5-5), Lakeside Lightning (4-5) and Kalamunda Eastern Suns (4-5) rounding out the top eight.

The Bethanie Stirling Senators (4-7) sat in ninth place ahead of the Mandurah Magic (3-6), Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles (1-9) and Print Sync South West Slammers (0-9).

The Team of the Week features Lauren Jeffers of the Perry Lakes Hawks, Ajay Jones from the Perth Redbacks, Stacey Barr of the Kalamunda Eastern Suns, the Joondalup Wolves' Klara Wischer and Adijat Adams from the Mandurah Magic.

The Hawks scored a hard fought four-point win over the Lightning on Friday with Jeffers leading the way and ending up named to the Team of the Week for the first time this season.

Jeffers finished with 27 points, 12 assists, three rebounds and two steals while hitting 4-of-6 of her three-point attempts.

Jeffers backed up in Sunday's loss to the Eastern Suns with 12 points, eight assists and three rebounds.

Jones was named to the Team of the Week for a first time and her big weekend began in the overtime one-point win over the Senators on Friday. She delivered 30 points, four assists and four steals on shooting 7-of-13 from the field, 5-of-7 from three-point range and 11-of-12 at the foul line.

Jones then backed up with 25 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals in Saturday's loss to the Magic while shooting 9-of-12 from the floor, 4-of-6 from three and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line.

The Eastern Suns had a big win over the Hawks on Sunday with Barr named to the Team of the Week for a fourth time on the back of 33 points, eight steals, six assists and three rebounds shooting 13-of-30 from the field.

The Wolves beat the Flames by 11 points on the road on Friday with Wischer delivering another strong performance to see her named to the Team of the Week for a third time this season.

Wischer finished with 11 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and two steals.

The Wolves backed up on Saturday night beating the Eagles by 23 points with Wischer delivering 20 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and two steals shooting 8-of-14 from the floor.

The Magic beat the Redbacks on Saturday with Adams again starring to be named in the Team of the Week for a third time following 21 points, 13 rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots on shooting 8-of-12 from the field.

There were plenty more big performances as well starting on Friday night with Jones receiving plenty of help as the Redbacks beat the Senators in overtime.

Rebecca Benson also had 24 points, six assists and five rebounds for the Redbacks with Ashley Gilmore adding 15 points, 12 boards and six assists while Jessica Hughes contributed 14 points.

The Redbacks went down to the Magic on Saturday with Jess Jakens finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Benson 14 points, four boards and four assists.

In the overtime loss to the Redbacks on Friday, Lyndal Gardner top-scored for the Senators with 22 points, six rebounds, five steals and four assists while hitting 4-of-7 from three-point range.

Amber Land contributed 16 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and four steals for Stirling, Chelsea Armstrong 14 points, Hannah Throns 12 points, and Taylor Bestry 12 points, five rebounds and five assists.

As well as the big game from Jeffers on Friday night for the Hawks, Kate Anthony contributed 15 points and five rebounds, Sarah Donovan 14 points and seven boards, Emily Burton 11 points and eight rebounds, and Brieana Nolan 11 points and seven boards.

Then in Sunday's loss to the Suns, Donovan finished with 11 points and seven rebounds, and Anthony 10 points and five boards.

Alison Schwagmeyer had another strong performance for the Lightning finishing with 24 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Devanny King added 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists for Lakeside, Ashleigh Grant 14 points and seven boards, and Courtney Byrnes 10 points, six rebounds and three assists.

The Lady Wolfpack beat the Flames on Friday and not only did Wischer perform strongly, but Amy Kidner also had 21 points and 13 rebounds, and Shani Amos 10 points, six boards and four assists.

The Wolves also beat the Eagles on Saturday with Kidner finishing with 14 points and eight rebounds, Amos 12 points, four assists, four steals and three boards, and Ellyce Ironmonger 11 points and eight rebounds.

The Flames lost for the first time since the opening weekend with Sami Whitcomb contributing 26 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and two assists.

The Tigers continued their winning ways against the winless Slammers prevailing by 42 points at home on Saturday with Louella Tomlinson starring again with 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

Desiree Kelley added 16 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists for Willetton, Zoe Harper 14 points and seven boards, Kate Malpass 13 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists, and Ebony Antonio 11 points, four boards, two assists and two steals.

Dena English top-scored for the Slammers with 11 points while Georgia Denehey contributed nine points, six assists, five rebounds and four steals.

The Eagles went down to the Wolves at home on Saturday despite 11 points, four assists, two rebounds and two steals from Jodie Milligan, and 10 points, four boards and two steals from Jodee Sontay.

The Magic did well to beat the Redbacks on Saturday and along with Adams' performance, Casey Mihovilovich made a strong return with 19 points, nine rebounds, six assists and five steals.

Annette Davis contributed 17 points and 15 boards, Rachel Halleen 16 points and four boards.

The Eastern Suns had a big win over the Hawks on Sunday with Carley Mijovic delivering 20 points and 10 rebounds, Rebecca Motroni 16 points and Sarah-Jane McMahon 14 points, 10 boards, four steals, three blocks and two steals.

WEEK 9 WOMEN'S TEAM OF THE WEEK
Lauren Jeffers (Perry Lakes Hawks)
Ajay Jones (Textile WA Perth Redbacks)
Stacey Barr (Kalamunda Eastern Suns)
Klara Wischer (Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves)
Adijat Adams (Mandurah Magic)

FRIDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Perry Lakes Hawks 84 defeated Lakeside Lightning 80
Orange Autos Rockingham Flames 54 lost to Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves 65
Textile WA Perth Redbacks 94 defeated Bethanie Stirling Senators 93

SATURDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers 87 defeated Print Sync South West Slammers 45
Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles 48 lost to Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves 71
Mandurah Magic 79 defeated Textile WA Perth Redbacks 70

SUNDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Kalamunda Eastern Suns 93 defeated Perry Lakes Hawks 58

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Sebpix Photography