THE Kalamunda Eastern Suns proved they can still be a force in the 2015 women's SBL season after a double-win weekend in Week 8 while the Willetton Tigers also recorded two victories to keep pace with the league-leading Rockingham Flames.

The Eastern Suns beat both the Lakeside Lightning and Perth Redbacks on back-to-back nights to improve to a 4-5 record while the Tigers also beat the South West Slammers and Perry Lakes Hawks to join the Rockingham Flames on top of the standings with 8-1 records.

The three women's matches on Friday night saw the Kalamunda Eastern Suns beat the Lakeside Lightning 87-79 at Lakeside Recreation Centre, the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames down the Stirling Senators 94-59 at Mike Barnett Sports Complex and the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers defeat the Perry Lakes Hawks 71-42 at WA Basketball Centre.

The Saturday night women's SBL matches saw the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers beat the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers 84-75 at Willetton Basketball Stadium; the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves defeat the Mandurah Magic 73-54 at Joondalup Basketball Stadium and the Kalamunda Eastern Suns down the Perth Redbacks 74-66 at Ray Owen Sports Centre.

The weekend's results leave the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames (8-1) still atop of the standings just ahead of the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers (8-1) with the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves (7-1) just behind in third position.

The Mandurah Magic (8-2) have slipped back to fourth position with the Perry Lakes Hawks (6-3), Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers (5-5), Kalamunda Eastern Suns (4-5) and Soprano Designs Cockburn Cougars (4-6) making up the rest of the positions in the top eight.

The Stirling Senators (2-7), Perth Redbacks (2-7) and Schweigen East Perth Eagles (1-8) sit outside the playoff positions with the Lakeside Lightning (0-9) remaining the only winless team in the competition despite once again leading heading into the fourth quarter on Friday against Kalamunda.

There was once again a bevy of starring individual performance across the Friday and Saturday night women's SBL action starting with Thea Lemberger top-scoring for the Suns on Friday with 22 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals while Melissa Moyle added 16 points, five boards, three assists and three steals.

Abbey Duinker contributed 14 points and eight rebounds as well for Kalamunda with Madeleine Dennis adding 14 points, four boards and three steals off the bench.

Megan Craig top-scored off the bench for the Lightning with 23 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 10-of-18 from the field.

Courtney Byrnes also had a good night with 22 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals while Ashleigh Grant contributed 18 points and eight boards.

Kate Malpass led the way for the Tigers with 21 points, four steals, three rebounds and two assists while shooting 9-of-15 from the field.

Louella Tomlinson added 16 points, nine rebounds, seven blocked shots and three assists also for Willetton with Emma Gandini contributing 12 points and Desiree Kelly seven points to go with eight boards and four steals.

Lauren Jeffers top-scored for the Hawks with 11 points with Kassi Conditt adding 10 points and five rebounds. Danika Pisconeri also had six points and 17 rebounds for Perry Lakes.

Jacinta Bourne was the star of the night for the Flames with 24 points, five assists, three steals and two rebounds on the back of shooting 9-of-13 from the field and 4-of-6 from three-point territory.

Darcee Garbin added 19 points, 10 rebounds and five assists while also shooting 8-of-12 from the floor with Samantha Whitcomb contributing 16 points and nine boards for Rockingham, and Tarsha Fletcher 10 points and Lizel Buckley eight points, nine rebounds and four assists.

Cassie Bates did all she could for the Senators finishing with 22 points and 10 rebounds with Amber Land adding 15 points, 12 boards, three assists and two blocked shots.

Then on Saturday night, Louella Tomlinson had another monster performance for the Tigers finishing with 28 points, 10 rebounds, four blocked shots, three steals and two assists while Zoe Harper added 19 points and 16 boards.

Kate Malpass contributed 12 points for Willetton, Desiree Kelley nine points and Ebony Antonio five to go with 11 assists and six rebounds.

Kate Fielding top-scored for the Slammers with 20 points to go with four rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocked shots. Patricia Bright added 17 points for South West with Kelly Bastow also scoring 17 points and Deanica McCormick 12 points to go with nine assists and five boards.

Nikita-Lee Martin led the way for the Lady Wolfpack off the bench with 18 points, nine rebounds and three assists with Rebecca Mercer also not starting but adding 12 points, three boards, two assists and two steals.

Chelsea Burns also finished with 10 points and five rebounds for Joondalup City with Ellyce Ironmonger contributing seven points and 10 boards.

Casey Mihovilovich did all she could for the Magic finishing with 17 points, seven rebounds, four steals and two assists while Shelley Boston added 12 points and Ashlee Sidebottom 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

Natalia Soli'ai top-scored off the bench for the Suns with 16 points and four rebounds with Melissa Moyle adding 14 points and seven rebounds.

Thea Lemberger also had 13 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals for the Eastern Suns with Madeleine Dennis contributing 13 points, eight boards and three assists, and Jessie Edwards eight points and five rebounds.

Gaby Clayton tried hard for the Redbacks finishing with 22 points and eight rebounds with Jess Jakens adding 15 points and seven boards.

Meike Elkington contributed nine points and six rebounds, Lauren Hall eight points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks, and Alix Hayward six points and 10 boards.

FRIDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Lakeside Lightning 79 lost to Kalamunda Eastern Suns 87
Orange Autos Rockingham Flames 94 defeated Stirling Senators 59
Perry Lakes Hawks 42 lost to Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers 71

SATURDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers 84 defeated Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers 75
Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves 73 defeated Mandurah Magic 54
Kalamunda Eastern Suns 74 defeated Perth Redbacks 66

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Mick Cronin