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HERITAGE Round in the Women’s SBL began with three matches on Friday night and it was the Rockingham Flames, Cockburn Cougars and Joondalup Wolves recording important victories.

There were the three matches on Friday night in the Women’s SBL as Heritage Round got underway all with plenty at stake for different reasons.

The Rockingham Flames maintained its top two hopes with a 58-51 victory over the defending champion Perry Lakes Hawks who remain on the outside of a playoff position.

The Cockburn Cougars kept their playoff hopes alive beating the Stirling Senators 87-84 while the Joondalup Wolves snapped their 10-game losing streak at the expense of the East Perth Eagles, winning 80-59.

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The Round 16 Women’s SBL action began at Mike Barnett Sports Complex with the Flames hosting the Hawks in a battle between two teams to have won three of the last four championships.

With Rockingham needing to win to stay in touch with the top two teams and Perry Lakes trying to break into a playoff spot, there was plenty on the line as the two teams locked horns as well.

It was the Flames who started well holding the Lady Hawks to just eight first quarter points but Perry Lakes were just six points down at half-time.

The Hawks then had drawn level by three quarter-time setting up a big finish, but the Flames again locked down and held the defending champions to eight points in the fourth period while scoring 15 themselves to score the seven-point win.

The win improves Rockingham to a 13-4 record equal with the second placed Perth Redbacks while Perry Lakes slips to 6-11 outside the top eight.

D’Lesha Lloyd once again top-scored for the Flames with 17 points, four rebounds and three steals with Jacinta Bourne contributing 16 points, six boards and four assists, and Maddison Allen 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Nat Burton (15 points, nine rebounds) and Toni Farnworth (15 points, 12 boards, three assists) both did all they could for Perry Lakes with Kate Anthony adding 10 points.

It was another game at Warwick Stadium on Friday with plenty on the line between the Senators and Cougars.

With Stirling just clinging to eighth position and Cockburn trying to snatch it off them, it was a game always destined to be a tight and tense affair.

That’s certainly how it panned out despite the Senators appearing in control at half-time leading 43-35.

The Cougars hit back in the third quarter with 24 points to 15 to take a one-point lead into a frantic fourth quarter.

In the finish, the Cougars went on an 11-2 run early in the last term and that was enough to set up the eventual three-point win despite a pair of late triples for Stirling to Jasmine Martin and Nicole Jorre St Jorre.

Reigning Women’s SBL Player of the Round Kisha Lee enjoyed her first return visit to Warwick Stadium as an opposition player leading the Cougars with 25 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two steals. She shot 10/18 from the field and 3/4 from three-point territory.

Isabelle Miotti also had 20 points, nine rebounds and three assists for the Cougars while Brianna Moyes contributed 17 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Taryn Priestly finished with nine points as well and Vanessa Michael eight points and 10 rebounds.

Amber Land tried to lift the Senators over the line ending the night with 32 points and 11 rebounds on 13/22 shooting from the floor.

Janee Johnson added 14 points and seven rebounds, Jasmine Martin 16 points, six boards and four assists, and Nicole Jorre de St Jorre nine points and five assists.

The night then concluded at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre with a contest featuring the bottom two teams in the Women’s SBL as the Eagles hosted the Wolves.

East Perth would have come into the game genuinely thinking of getting its opening win of the 2018 season, but it wasn’t to be with the Lady Wolfpack pulling away in the second quarter to lead 38-31 at half-time.

Joondalup pulled further away in the second half to win by 21 points for their fifth win of the season leaving East Perth winless in 18 attempts.

Nikita Martin top-scored for the Wolves with 24 points and 10 rebounds shooting an efficient 10/14 from the field.

Amy Kidner added 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Wolfpack, Kourteney Zadina 11 points and four boards, Tayla Pipes 11 points and three rebounds, and Chelsea Belcher nine points, six boards, four assists and two steals.

Ladondra Johnson put up 23 points, five rebounds and five assists for East Perth with Eryn Fisher contributing 16 points and six boards.

WEEK 16 WOMEN’S SBL FIXTURES
FRIDAY
Rockingham Flames 58 defeated Perry Lakes Hawks 51
Stirling Senators 84 lost to Cockburn Cougars 87
East Perth Eagles 59 lost to Joondalup Wolves 80

SATURDAY
Perry Lakes Hawks v South West Slammers – Bendat Basketball Centre 6.00pm
Willetton Tigers v Lakeside Lightning – Willetton Basketball Stadium 6.00pm
Cockburn Cougars v Perth Redbacks – Wally Hagan Stadium 6.00pm

SUNDAY
Perth Redbacks v Mandurah Magic – Belmont Oasis 12.00pm