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THE Lakeside Lightning made a statement of its championship credentials beating the Mandurah Magic by 36 points in the Women’s SBL on Friday night with the Rockingham Flames also impressively beating the Perth Redbacks.

There were just the two matches in the Women’s SBL on Friday night to open Round 10 of the 2018 season, but both featured teams entering the weekend in top five positions.

The Lakeside Lightning consolidated top position at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre with an emphatic 100-64 victory against the Mandurah Magic.

The other clash saw the Rockingham Flames also impress with a 74-62 victory against the Perth Redbacks at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.

WOMEN’S SBL PREVIEW – WEEK 10 

The Friday night action got underway with a rematch from last year’s three-game semi-final series between the Magic and Lightning.

Mandurah won Game 3 in that series on its home floor to advance to the Grand Final with this the first time the Lightning had returned to play the Magic in Mandurah since that Saturday night.

But it was the Lightning who made quite the statement coming away with the 36-point victory to improve to a 10-1 record on the season with the Magic slipping to 6-3 as a result of the loss.

It was a tight first half with scores locked together after both the first and second quarters. But then the Lightning got rolling with 30 points to 13 in the third quarter, and 28 points to nine in the fourth to run away big winners over last year’s Grand Finalists.

Two-time MVP winner Ali Schwagmeyer had a big night for the Lightning finishing with 30 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals on the back of shooting 10/14 from the field, 4/7 from three-point range and 6/9 from the free-throw line.

Sydnee Fipps added 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals too for Lakeside with Ash Grant contributing 17 points and eight boards, and Paris Duffield 11 points, four boards, two assists and two steals.

Regina Palusna ended the evening with 17 points and seven rebounds for Mandurah with Anita Brown adding 17 points and seven boards, and Casey Mihovilovich 12 points and four steals.

Then at Mike Barnett Sports Complex, the Flames hosted the Redbacks and again it was a tight contest in the first half with scores level at 13-13 at quarter-time and 34-34 at the main break.

But the Flames pulled away in the third quarter with 16 points to eight and then with another 24 to 20 in the fourth they went on to score the 12-point win to improve to a 7-3 record with the Redbacks slipping to 8-3 in the process.

It was the Flames imports who were the stars of the night with D’Lesha Lloyd finishing with 26 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Taneisha Harrison added 22 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two steals too for the Flames.

Maddison Allen also contributed 14 points, 16 rebounds, five blocked shots and two steals while Chelsea Armstrong delivered four points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Makailah Dyer top-scored for the Redbacks with 18 points and eight rebounds with Kayla Standish contributing 15 points and nine boards, Mikayla Pirini 10 points, five assists and four rebounds, and Jess Jakens 10 points and eight boards.

WEEK 10 WOMEN’S SBL FIXTURES
FRIDAY
Mandurah Magic 64 lost to Lakeside Lightning 100
Rockingham Flames 74 defeated Perth Redbacks 62

SATURDAY
Willetton Tigers v Joondalup Wolves – Willetton Basketball Stadium 6.00pm
East Perth Eagles v Cockburn Cougars – Morley Sport and Recreation Centre 6.00pm
Kalamunda Eastern Suns v Mandurah Magic – Ray Owen Sports Centre 8.30pm

SUNDAY
Cockburn Cougars v Willetton Tigers – Wally Hagan Stadium 12.00pm
Stirling Senators v South West Slammers – Warwick Stadium 2.00pm