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THERE were another three games in the Women’s SBL on Saturday night leading into the All-Star Game on Monday with victories for the Stirling Senators, Lakeside Lightning and Perth Redbacks.

There were three games each in the Women’s SBL on Friday and Saturday nights leading into the 2018 All-Star Game to be held at Bendat Basketball Centre on the WA Day Monday public holiday.

The round’s action got underway on Friday night with the Rockingham Flames beating the Cockburn Cougars 92-51, the South West Slammers defeating the Mandurah Magic 84-81 and the Perry Lakes Hawks downing the East Perth Eagles 62-50.

There were then three more matches on Saturday night that saw the Lakeside Lightning beat the Willetton Tigers to remain clear in top spot while the Stirling Senators defeated the Joondalup Wolves 56-54 and the Perth Redbacks downed the Kalamunda Eastern Suns.

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The Saturday night Women’s SBL action began with the third Battle of Joondalup between the Lady Wolfpack and Senators and the first one held at the new HBF Arena.

Both teams needed a win too raising the stakes in the contest. The Wolves came into the clash on a six-game losing streak but started strongly with a 17-10 opening quarter even minus head coach Craig Friday and with captain Shani Amos sitting on the sidelines alongside Brad Robbins.

The Senators responded in the second quarter to cut Joondalup’s half-time advantage to 28-25.

The game never reached any great heights but it was tight and tense, and the win was crucial for both clubs. In the end it was Stirling who got the job done thanks to 14 points to nine in the fourth quarter and they won by two.

The win improves the Senators to a 6-8 record and ends their two-game losing run while the Wolfpack are now 4-10 and having lost seven in-a-row.

Amber Land delivered another strong showing for the Senators finishing the night with 15 points and 12 rebounds with Jasmine Martin contributing 15 points and four boards.

Nicole Jorre de St Jorre had eight points and five rebounds too for Stirling with Jodee Sontay finishing with six points and five rebounds, and Janee Johnson four points, seven steals and five boards despite shooting just 1/8.

Abbie Ironmonger put up 10 points and collected six rebounds for the Wolves while Amy Kidner added 10 points and four boards.

Kourteney Zadina top-scored for the Lady Wolfpack with 13 points, five rebounds and three assists with Chelsea Belcher contributing eight points, four rebounds and two steals.

Two teams battling over a top four position and in some exciting form in recent times then locked horns at Ray Owen Sports Centre and the result was one of the best games of the SBL season to date between the Eastern Suns and Redbacks.

Kalamunda was closing in on Perth’s top four position on a five-game winning run but the Redbacks had only one slight hiccup last Saturday night losing at home to Perry Lakes in the absence of Kayla Standish.

What eventuated was a terrific contest between two teams that deserve to be considered genuine threats to the top three teams right now, Lakeside, Rockingham and Willetton.

The Redbacks welcomed back Standish and started well leading 27-22 by quarter-time before the Suns were able to respond and tie scores up at half-time at 47 apiece.

By three quarter-time, the Redbacks were up by a point and they would go on to secure the nail-biting three-point victory secured when Jess Jakens put them in front with 45 seconds left before Standish sealed the deal with the clinching free-throws.

The win improves the Redbacks to a 10-4 record in the season to be clear in the top four while the Suns’ five-match winning streak ended and they stay fifth at 8-5.

Kayla Standish marked her return with Perth by delivering 27 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and four assists on the back of shooting a supremely efficient 9/12 shooting from the field, 3/4 from three-point territory and 6/6 from the free-throw line.

Jess Jakens added 16 points, three rebounds and two assists for the Redbacks with Mikayla Pirini finishing with 13 points, seven assists and three boards, Makailah Dyer nine points, six rebounds and four assists, and Bianca Donovan seven points and two assists.

Lori Ashworth also had six rebounds and six rebounds.

Alex Ciabattoni had another impressive showing for the Eastern Suns with 27 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals on shooting 12/20 from the floor and 2/5 from deep.

Jessie Edwards marked her first appearance of the season for the Suns and was impressive with 22 points, four assists and three rebounds on shooting 8/10 from the field and 6/6 from the foul line.

Jorjah Smith also had nine points and seven rebounds for Kalamunda, Alecia Knowles eight points and three boards, and Jennie Rintala eight points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.

WEEK 12 WOMEN’S SBL FIXTURES
FRIDAY
Cockburn Cougars 51 lost to Rockingham Flames 92
Mandurah Magic 81 lost to South West Slammers 84
East Perth Eagles 50 lost to Perry Lakes Hawks 62

SATURDAY
Joondalup Wolves 54 lost to Stirling Senators 56
Lakeside Lightning defeated Willetton Tigers
Kalamunda Eastern Suns 89 lost to Perth Redbacks 92

MONDAY
Women’s All-Star Game
North v South – Bendat Basketball Centre 12pm