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THE Lakeside Lightning face two significant tests in Round 13 of the Women’s SBL with both the Stirling Senators and Kalamunda Eastern Suns trying to make a statement while the weekend’s action also includes a tantalising Grand Final rematch between the Mandurah Magic and Perry Lakes Hawks.

Coming off the WA Day long weekend and subsequent All-Star Game on Monday at Bendat Basketball Centre, we now are entering the home straight towards the playoffs as hostilities resume with thee games on Friday night and another four on Saturday evening.

The Friday night matches see the Cockburn Cougars play the Joondalup Wolves, the East Perth Eagles take on the Kalamunda Eastern Suns and the Lakeside Lightning face the Stirling Senators.

There are then four more matches on Saturday night with the South West Slammers hosting the Willetton Tigers, the Stirling Senators playing the East Perth Eagles, the Mandurah Magic facing the Perry Lakes Hawks and the Kalamunda Eastern Suns taking on the Lakeside Lightning.

The Friday night’s action in the Women’s SBL begins with the Cougars hosting the Wolfpack at Wally Hagan Stadium with both teams desperate for a win to stay in the playoff hunt.

Cockburn has now lost its last three games since a win over East Perth including losing by 41 points at home the Rockingham Flames last Friday night. That sees the Cougars come into Round 13 in ninth position with a 4-9 record.

Joondalup, meanwhile, has now lost seven straight matches including going down in a heartstopper to the Stirling Senators by two points at home last Saturday night. The Wolves now sit second last with a 4-10 record as result.

Then also on Friday night, the Eagles host the Eastern Suns at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.

East Perth is trying to snap a 24-game losing run dating back to last year and having lost all 14 appearances so far in 2018 by an average of 34 points, but they were much more competitive last Friday only losing to the Perry Lakes Hawks by 12.

They now host an Eastern Suns team on Friday night coming off a nail-biting home defeat at the hands of the Perth Redbacks last Saturday. But Kalamunda still sits in fifth position with an 8-5 record.

The last match up on Friday night takes place at Lakeside Recreation Centre with the Lightning hosting the Senators.

Lakeside remains clear on top of the Women’s SBL with a 12-1 record and having now won its last four including a win over the Willetton Tigers last Saturday night.

Stirling will look to take it right up to them to stay inside top eight, though, with the Senators having beaten the Lady Wolfpack in Joondalup last Saturday night to improve to 6-8.

Then on Saturday night, the Women’s SBL fixtures begin at Eaton Recreation Centre with the South West Slammers hosting the Willetton Tigers.

The Slammers beat the Magic in Mandurah last Friday night by three points to improve to a 5-7 record to maintain a spot inside the top eight. They will look to further consolidate that on Saturday up against a Willetton team still sitting fourth at 9-4 despite a loss to Lakeside last Saturday.

The Magic and Lady Hawks then meet in a Grand Final rematch at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre on Saturday night.

Mandurah did win earlier in the season at Bendat Basketball Centre, but it’s a very different Perry Lakes team now who has won three straight with Nat Burton up and firing.

That sees the Hawks bring some momentum into the trip to Mandurah and at 4-9 they are closing in on a playoff spot while the Magic have been struggling to now sit sixth at 7-5 including a narrow home loss to the Slammers last Friday night.

Then also on Saturday night, the Senators host the Eagles at Warwick Stadium with Stirling coming off a trip to play Lakeside on Friday while East Perth will have played host to Kalamunda as well.

The round concludes at Ray Owen Sports Centre with the Eastern Suns hosting the Lightning with Lakeside looking to maintain its advantage in top spot and Kalamunda to further close in on fourth position.

WOMEN’S SBL FIXTURES – WEEK 13
FRIDAY
Cockburn Cougars v Joondalup Wolves – Wally Hagan Stadium 6.30pm
East Perth Eagles v Kalamunda Eastern Suns – Morley Sport and Recreation Centre 6.30pm
Lakeside Lightning v Stirling Senators – Lakeside Recreation Centre 6.30pm

SATURDAY
South West Slammers v Willetton Tigers – Eaton Recreation Centre 6.00pm
Stirling Senators v East Perth Eagles – Warwick Stadium 6.00pm
Mandurah Magic v Perry Lakes Hawks – Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre 6.00pm
Kalamunda Eastern Suns v Lakeside Lightning – Ray Owen Sports Centre 6.30pm