A FULL strength defending champion Willetton Tigers flexed their muscles in the Women's SBL on Friday spoiling the debut of Rockingham import Chastity Reed while the Perry Lakes Hawks continued their undefeated start to 2017.

The two Friday night Women's SBL matches saw the Perry Lakes Hawks defeat the Perth Redbacks 79-63 and the Willetton Tigers beat the Rockingham Flames 83-75.

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There was plenty going on at Mike Barnett Sports Complex with the Flames unveiling new import Chastity Reed with the former WNBA draft pick having finished up in Romania and getting her clearance to begin her SBL career.

There was also good news for Willetton with Kate Malpass back after spending some time over in Seattle in recent weeks marking the first time that Malpass, Jessica Hootmann, Stacey Barr and Zoe Harper all played together.

It was Rockingham who made the fast start, though, with the home team racing to a 26-14 quarter-time advantage. The Flames still led 48-32 at half-time as well.

But the Tigers rallied in the second half and with Barr and Malpass firing, they outscored the Flames 51 points to 27 after half-time to end up winning by eight points.

Malpass finished with 26 points, six assists, six steals and five rebounds for Willetton having played almost 34 minutes despite starting on the bench.

Barr didn’t shoot particularly well for the Tigers going 9-of-26 from the floor and 2-of-10 from deep but still had 26 points, nine rebounds and five assists for the night.

Hootmann added 15 points for Willetton while Desiree Kelley contributed eight points and nine rebounds, and Harper five points and 13 boards.

Reed certainly made her mark on debut for the Flames recording a triple-double made up of 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.

Jacinta Bourne continued her tremendous form with 17 points and 13 rebounds with Tarsha Fletcher contributing 13 points, five boards and four assists, and Dena English 11 points and three assists.

Then at Belmont Oasis it shaped as another tremendous Women's SBL contest with the Redbacks on a three-game winning streak hosting the undefeated Lady Hawks.

Again Perry Lakes proved too strong for the four quarters putting their foot down in the second and fourth periods to end up recording the 16-point victory to improve to 7-0 on the season.

Nat Burton had a terrific battle all night with Redbacks import Emilee Harmon with Burton finishing with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Lauren Jeffers had a strong night for Perry Lakes and attacked the rim particularly well to end up with 16 points, five assists, five steals and four rebounds on the back of 10-of-13 from the foul line.

Kate Anthony contributed 14 points and five rebounds for the Hawks, Gabby O'Sullivan 10 points against her former team and the returning Toni Edmondson nine points, eight boards and four assists after recently getting married.

Harmon's night was made difficult by Burton and the Hawks bigs, but the Redbacks import still fought hard to contribute strongly with 17 points and eight rebounds.

Rebecca Benson added 15 points, four rebounds and four assists for Perth while the masked Gabby Clayton had 12 points and three steals, and Jess Jakens seven points and five rebounds.

Week 7 of the Women's SBL will continue on Saturday night with the Joondalup Wolves hosting the Mandurah Magic, the East Perth Eagles taking on the Lakeside Lightning and the Cockburn Cougars facing the Perth Redbacks.

Then on Sunday, the Willetton Tigers host the South West Slammers.

FRIDAY NIGHT ROUND 7 WOMEN'S SBL RESULTS
Perth Redbacks 63 lost to Perry Lakes Hawks 79
Rockingham Flames 75 lost to Willetton Tigers 83

SATURDAY NIGHT ROUND 7 WOMEN'S SBL FIXTURES
Joondalup Wolves v Mandurah Magic – Joondalup Basketball Stadium 6pm
East Perth Eagles v Lakeside Lightning – Morley Sport and Recreation Centre 6pm
Cockburn Cougars v Perth Redbacks – Wally Hagan Stadium 6pm

SUNDAY ROUND 7 WOMEN'S SBL FIXTURES
Willetton Tigers v South West Slammers – Willetton Basketball Stadium 2pm

Photo by June Halliday