Senators pounce for pair of vital wins (Round 11 WSBL Wrap)
Western Stainless Stirling Senators gave their women's State Basketball League finals hopes a major boost with a pair of vital round 11 victories.
The ninth-placed Senators are level on wins with the eighth-placed Perth Redbacks after Stirling beat Rockingham Flames 65-63 and Southwest Slammers 86-73.
The Senators trailed bottom side Rockingham with just four minutes left in the game, but Michelle Joy's 20 points carried them to the vital victory and denied the Flames their second win of the season.
And Joy was again in great touch to lead the Senators past the Slammers, scoring a game-high 28 points. Lavesa Glover had 20 points for Southwest, which has lost its past 12 games.
Stirling's victories increased the pressure on the struggling Redbacks, who suffered a 69-60 overtime loss to Metropolis Fremantle Cockburn Cougars.
Perth has lost four of its past five games after Cockburn's Emma Pass hit a two-pointer with 16 seconds left so send the match to an overtime period which the Cougars dominated.
Pass and Kara Hargreaves both had 20 points for the Cougars, who are in fifth spot after winning four of their past five games.
Total Connections Perry Lakes Hawks maintained the pressure on league leaders Southlands Boulevarde Willetton Tigers with comfortable wins against Lakeside Lightning and Rockingham.
The Hawks jumped out to a 52-25 half-time lead against the Flames and cruised home, thanks to Christine Boyd (18 points and 11 rebounds).
And Perry Lakes was also dominant in its 82-71 win against Lakeside, as Tegan Walker (21 points) led it to victory.
Lakeside's finals hopes are all but over after losing 77-70 to top four side Glasscraft Wanneroo Wolves.
The Lightning have lost four straight and are two games outside the top eight after Rebecca Mercer helped Wanneroo to its third consecutive win with 19 points.
Australian Central East Perth Eagles continued their solid form with a thrilling 77-73 road win against Kalamunda Eastern Suns.
The Eagles trailed by seven in the fourth quarter but came back for their third win from four games thanks to Samantha Norwood (21 points). Leah Rush had 23 points for the Suns, who have lost their past two matches.
Article by Jacob Kagi
Photo by Marg Prior
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