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AFTER two losses in Round 15, the Warwick Senators ensured they hit back with two wins in Round 16 on the back of a combined 52 points from Stacey Barr and Samaria Howard in Sunday’s win against the South West Slammers.

The Senators still sat in second position in the Women’s SBL coming into Round 16 despite the losses last weekend to the Perry Lakes Hawks and Lakeside Lightning, but they did need to have a good 24 hours this weekend to ensure they stayed.

Meanwhile, there was plenty at stake for the Slammers as well who needed to take another big scalp on the road if they were to remain in the top eight themselves.

That set the stage for a fascinating contest and for most of the afternoon at Warwick Stadium it was a tight affair with the Senators only leading by three points with 2:45 left in the third quarter

But from there the Senators were able to outscore the Slammers 30 points to 14 to come away with the important 105-86 victory.

That backed up a win on Saturday night the Cockburn Cougars for the Senators who now improve to 13-5 on the season to remain solid in second position. The Slammers now slide outside the top eight at 8-10 with the Lady Hawks beating the East Perth Eagles on Sunday.

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The Slammers came into Sunday’s game at Warwick Stadium having won three of their past five matches with those three victories all coming on the road to Joondalup, Perry Lakes and Cockburn.

So while taking on the Senators on their home floor was a big task, it wasn’t a daunting task for the visitors with both teams also fresh of wins over the Cougars – the Slammers last Saturday in overtime and then the Senators this Saturday night also at Wally Hagan Stadium.

The Slammers got the first break of the game leading early 8-4, 10-6 and then 13-8 following a three-point play from Bianca Donovan. But five quick Stacey Barr points hat Warwick back in front five minutes into the first term.

But the lead continued to change hands leading into quarter-time with the Slammers finishing the first term leading 25-23 when Donovan drained a three.

While the Slammers did briefly breakaway again during the second quarter thanks to Makailah Dyer hitting a three-pointer, things remained tight heading into half-time with Warwick narrowly up 47-46 at the major break.

A triple from Barr and jumper from Samaria saw the Senators’ lead grow to six to start the second half and that advantage would soon grow to seven with last year’s championship-winner with Lakeside, Sam Roscoe, also hit from outside the arc.

The lead was then eight thanks to a three from Barr as well but the Slammers wouldn’t go away and with nine quick individual Dyer points, the Slammers were only down three with 2:45 left in the third quarter

But by three quarter-time, the Senators pulled away to lead 83-74 and then dominated the fourth term with 22 points to 12 to come away with the crucial 105-86 win on their home floor.

Warwick coach Dion Dagostino was pleased with the way the Senators took the best shots from the Slammers and were able to pull away.

“It seems to be out trademark at the moment where we weather the storm and then come through late in the game. We keep the girls fit so hopefully that’s going to continue,” Dagostino said.

“The girls have got a good mentality where they are able to weather the storm and we continue to do our thing. It’s a credit to them, they are doing a really good job with it at the moment.”

The Senators back court was outstanding with Stacey Barr, Samaria Howard and Caitlyn Jones all proving the difference in the contest.

Barr finished with 28 points on 9/17 shooting from the field, 5/10 from downtown and 5/6 from the foul line while Howard contributed 24 points, eight rebounds and three assists, and Jones 16 points with 4/9 from three-point range including a couple from way downtown.

With the absence of Tayla Hepburn, Bianca Villegas needed to stand up inside for the Senators and she did with 16 points, 11 rebounds and three assists with Sam Roscoe adding seven points, nine rebounds and five blocks.

Evergreen 387-game veteran Nicole Jorre De St Jorre had a big impact too with seven points, six rebounds and five assists.

There was still a lot to like about the Slammers performance despite the eventual 19-point loss with Makailah Dyer leading the way with 24 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Bianca Donovan finished with a season-high 17 points, six rebounds and three steals as well while Brittni Montgomery battled hard inside despite foul trouble for 16 points and 13 rebounds on 7/11 shooting.

Courtney Bayliss also delivered 12 points, six rebounds and three assists, Kate Fielding 11 points, seven assists, four boards and three blocks, and Adele East four points and six rebounds.

Slammers coach Nathan Grover was quite happy with his team’s offence to put up 86 points on 40 per cent shooting from the field and going 17/19 from the free-throw line.

But giving up 105 points to the Senators where they hit 11 threes and got to the foul line 29 times was where the problems arose.

“Their transition game was really strong and Howard’s lightning quick in the upper court and then of course Barr is a threat no matter where she is on the court,” Grover said.

“I just don’t think we probably did a good enough job in our transition defence and that allowed them too many easy baskets and layups. Then you have Villegas running the court pretty well as well getting some shots in transition too.

“That’s really what hurt us but otherwise I thought we did a really good job to stick with them for most of the game. We executed ourselves pretty well which was what we wanted to do and haven’t done that so well over the last three games.

“It was really important to get back to playing well offensively but it was our defence that let us down a little bit.”

WOMEN’S SBL FIXTURES – HERITAGE ROUND
FRIDAY
Class 1 Orthodontics Rockingham Flames 67 lost to Texture WA Perth Redbacks 72

SATURDAY
Cachet Homes Mandurah Magic 73 defeated Scarboro Toyota Perry Lakes Hawks 60
Round 1 Fitness Cockburn Cougars 74 lost to Bethanie Warwick Senators 83
Chambers Franklyn Joondalup City Wolves 53 lost to Willetton Tigers 71

SUNDAY
Scarboro Toyota Perry Lakes Hawks 104 defeated Schweigen East Perth Eagles 47
Bethanie Warwick Senators 105 defeated Print Sync South West Slammers 86