Suns and Senators take bite out of Redbacks (Round Three WSBL Wrap)
Perth Redbacks’ impressive early season form came to an end with losses to Kalamunda Eastern Suns and Western Stainless Stirling Senators in round three of the women’s State Basketball League.
Perth’s only defeat from its first three games came against defending champions Southlands Boulevarde Willetton Tigers, but lost 79-70 to the Suns on Friday and 67-51 to the Senators, even though both of those opponents missed the finals in 2010.
New Suns import Leah Rush had 23 points to lead her side past last year’s semi-finalists and ensure Kalamunda maintained an unbeaten record, which kept them in the top two.
And the Senators claimed their first win of the season against Perth on the back of starring efforts from Michelle Joy (17 points and 11 rebounds) and Rachel Watman (16 points).
Willetton was the only other undefeated side at the end of the round after it beat Stirling 89-52 on Friday and Lakeside Lightning 70-56 on Saturday.
The winless Lightning gave the first-placed Tigers a scare and even led at half-time, but Melissa Marsh had 23 points to help Willetton to its fifth straight victory.
Glasscraft Wanneroo Wolves suffered their first loss of the season on Saturday, a 63-62 defeat to Metropolis Fremantle Cockburn Cougars.
The Wolves led by nine points in the fourth quarter Emma Pass (14 points) and Nicole Johnson (13 points and 13 rebounds) led Cockburn’s comeback.
But Wanneroo bounced back to beat Australian Central East Perth Eagles 68-56 on Sunday, thanks largely to Rebecca Mercer’s 19 points.
Mandurah Magic moved into the top four with a 75-49 thrashing of local rivals Rockingham Flames on Friday and a thrilling 67-63 win against Cockburn on Sunday.
All-Star guard Casey Mihovilovich continued her outstanding form with 17 points against the Flames and a triple-double (22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists) against the Cougars to help the Magic improve to 3-1 this season.
East Perth also thrashed Rockingham 87-50 on Saturday to leave the Flames bottom of the league as one of only two winless teams.
New Eagles recruit Kate Fielding had 25 points to lead her side to their first victory of the year.
Article by Jacob Kagi
Photo by Marg Prior
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