THE Rockingham Flames and Willetton Tigers continue to battle over top spot in the women's SBL after both again won in Week 16 while the Kalamunda Eastern Suns are still hunting a top four spot, and playing-coach Deanna Smith went a long way to securing the Cockburn Cougars' playoff position.

The Flames and Tigers continue to sit out on top of the women's SBL after 16 rounds of the 2015 season with one loss separating them but the Joondalup Wolves are just one win further back and ready to pounce on a top two finish if the opportunity arises.

Meanwhile, the Mandurah Magic and Kalamunda Eastern Suns are now locked in a battle over fourth spot with the East Perth Eagles' job of unseating either the Cockburn Cougars, South West Slammers or Perry Lakes Hawks in the eight made harder with their loss to the Suns on the weekend.

There were three women's matches to start the round on Friday night with the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames beating the Lakeside Lightning 107-56 at Mike Barnett Sports Complex, the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers downing the Perry Lakes Hawks 72-56 at Eaton Recreation Centre and the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves defeating the Mandurah Magic 79-71 at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre.

There were four women's matches on Saturday night with the Soprano Designs Cockburn Cougars beating the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers 91-76 at Wally Hagan Stadium and the Kalamunda Eastern Suns defeating the Schweigen East Perth Eagles 74-67 at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.

The Mandurah Magic also beat the Stirling Senators 83-63 at Warwick Leisure Centre and the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers downed the Perth Redbacks 72-55 at Curtin Stadium.

In the women's match on Sunday afternoon, the Perth Redbacks came away with a 63-54 victory over the Perry Lakes Hawks at Bendat Basketball Centre.

The weekend's results leave the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames (16-1) on top of the women's standings as they chase back to back titles just ahead of the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers (16-2) and Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves (15-4).

The Mandurah Magic (13-4) are a couple of games further back in fourth spot while the Kalamunda Eastern Suns (12-6) are clear in fifth.

Then there is the battle over the remaining three playoff spots with the Soprano Designs Cockburn Cougars (8-11) currently sitting sixth, the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers (7-10) seventh, Perry Lakes Hawks (7-11) eighth and Schweigen East Perth Eagles (5-12) ninth.

The Perth Redbacks (4-14), Stirling Senators (3-14) and Lakeside Lightning (1-18) then make up the rest of the women's standings.

There were again some outstanding individual performances right across the weekend starting on Friday night with Samantha Whitcomb turning on a massive performance for the Flames with 40 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals on the back of shooting 13-of-18 from the field, a remarkable 9-of-13 from three-point territory and 5-of-5 from the foul line.

Jacinta Bourne also added 19 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for Rockingham while Talisia Bourne contributed 13 points, Darcee Garbin 11 (eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks), Ariana Hetherington nine and Vanessa Michael eight (eight boards).

Courtney Byrnes tried hard for the Lightning with 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists with Ashleigh Grant adding 11 points and Tia Ucich 10.

Patricia Bright had a big game for the Slammers with 22 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots on the back of shooting 7-of-10 from the field, and 8-of-11 from the free-throw line.

Kate Fielding also added 17 points, 12 boards, eight assists and two steals for South West with Deonica McCormick contributing 13 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals, Rebecca Preston nine points and six boards, and Bianca Donovan nine points.

Sarah Donovan top-scored for the Hawks with 15 points and nine rebounds with Georgia Clarke contributing 11 points and four boards, Kassi Conditt 10 points and six rebounds, and Mia Satie seven points, nine boards, five assists and three steals.

Rebecca Mercer led the way for the Wolves with 21 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots with Shani Amos contributing 17 points, three boards and two assists, while Nikita-Lee Martin also had 13 points, six rebounds and four assists.

Antonia Edmondson also had 20 points with Chelsea Burns contributing seven points, six rebounds and three assists, and Ellyce Ironmonger pulling in nine boards.

Casey Mihovilovich led the way for the Magic with 19 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals with Peyton Davis finishing with 12 points and 13 boards, Shelly Boston 13 points and Ashlee Sidebottom nine points.

Then on Saturday night, Deanna Smith had a stunning night for the Cougars and inspired her team to the victory with 39 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists with a triple-double on the back of shooting 14-of-24 from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 from the charity stripe.

Taryn Priestly added 15 points, four rebounds and two assists while Katie Loberg contributed 11 points and five boards.

Patricia Bright top-scored again for the Slammers finishing with 22 points and eight rebounds with Deonica McCormick contributing 17 points, 11 boards and four assists. Kate Fielding also had 11 points for the Slammers along with three rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Abbey Duinker top-scored for the Suns with 22 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals with Jessie Edwards contributing 21 points and 13 boards.

Melissa Moyle added 13 points, four assists and four steals and Natalia Soli'ai 13 points and five rounds.

Kelsey Maffin did all she could for the Eagles with 20 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals while Haylee DeSousa contributed 12 points and Jodee Sontay 10 to go with eight boards.

Casey Mihovilovich had another big night for the Magic with 18 points, 15 rebounds, eight rebounds and six steals while Ashlee Sidebottom contributed 15 points and five boards, Patricia Davis 12 points and nine rebounds, and Emma Klasztorny nine points.

Tegan Walker top-scored for the Senators with 20 of her team's 63 points on the night while shooting 7-of-11 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.

Cassie Bates added 18 points and six rebounds for Stirling as well while Amber Land finished with 12 points, 18 boards and three blocked shots.

Kate Malpass led the way for the Tigers in the win with 17 points, nine assists and two steals while Desiree Kelley finished with 15 points and six boards, Louella Tomlinson 13 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots, and Zoe Harper six points and five boards.

Gabby O'Sullivan did all she could for the Redbacks finishing with 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals on the back of shooting 7-of-12 from the field.

Gaby Clayton also contributed 13 points, seven boards, two assists and two steals with Jess Jakens adding nine points and seven rebounds, and Meike Elkington eight points, five boards and two steals.

And finally on Sunday, Jess Jakens had a terrific game for the Redbacks with one of her biggest performances of the season to finish with 24 points, 13 rebounds and four steals.

Gaby Clayton added 10 points, three assists, three rebounds and three steals for Perth while Gabby O'Sullivan contributed seven points and seven boards, and Lauren Hall six points and eight rebounds.

Sarah Donovan top-scored for the Hawks with 14 points and 12 rebounds shooting 6-of-10 from the field.

Kassi Conditt also finished with 13 points, three rebounds and two steals for Perry Lakes with Lauren Jeffers contributing 12 points and four assists, and Danika Pisconeri 10 points and five boards.

FRIDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Orange Autos Rockingham Flames 107 defeated Lakeside Lightning 56
Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers 72 defeated Perry Lakes Hawks 56
Mandurah Magic 71 lost to Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves 79

SATURDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Soprano Designs Cockburn Cougars 91 defeated Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers 76
Schweigen East Perth Eagles 67 lost to Kalamunda Eastern Suns 74
Stirling Senators 63 lost to Mandurah Magic 83
Perth Redbacks 55 lost to Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers 72

SUNDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Perry Lakes Hawks 54 lost to Perth Redbacks 63

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by VIP