Top plays bottom, second faces third (Week 10 Women's SBL Preview)
A CLASH between the unbeaten Rockingham Flames and winless Perth Redbacks, and second-placed Lakeside and third-placed Mandurah are just two of seven intriguing women's SBL fixtures in Week 10 action.
The seven women's SBL matches in Week 10 are spread over just Friday and Saturday nights this week with the Redbacks, Hawks and Magic backing up for double-headers.
The action begins on Friday night with the Perth Redbacks taking on the Soprano Cockburn Cougars at Belmont Oasis with the Lakeside Lightning also facing the Mandurah Magic at Lakeside Recreation Centre and the Perry Lakes Hawks hosting the Joondalup Wolves at WA Basketball Centre.
All three matches tip-off at 6.30pm and each will be playing one another for the first time so far in 2014.
The Redbacks host the Cougars desperately looking for their first win of the season after 11 straight losses with an average losing margin of over 30 points.
However, Cockburn itself is trying to snap a two-game losing slide and improve on a 5-4 record on the season to date.
The Lightning and Magic then meet in a clash between the second and third-placed teams who are looking to sit outright second by the end of the weekend.
The Lightning currently sits in second position having won two straight matches and to sit on an 8-2 record. The Magic are on the same 8-2 record having now won six straight matches and playing on the road holds no fear with Mandurah having won all seven away fixtures so far in 2014.
The Hawks and Wolves is also a clash featuring two teams inside the top-eight with Perry Lakes currently on a 4-4 record in seventh spot while Joondalup is on 6-3 in fourth position.
There are then four women's matches on Saturday night starting with three 6pm fixtures that sees the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers face the Schweigen East Perth Eagles at Eaton Recreation Centre, the Mandurah Magic play the Perry Lakes Hawks at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre and the Willetton Tigers battle the Stirling Senators at Willetton Basketball Stadium.
Then at 6.30pm, the round concludes with the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames hosting the Perth Redbacks at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.
The Slammers and Eagles have both struggled over the first nine rounds of the 2014 women's SBL season with just four wins between them, but the winner of Saturday night's clash can maintain a degree of touch with the top-eight.
The Slammers have fallen away from being the 2012 champions and again semi-finalists in 2013 having a 2-7 record after nine matches including having lost their last three matches.
The Eagles meanwhile are a vastly improved unit from last year's one-win team and currently hold a 2-9 record while on a five-game losing streak.
The Magic then backs up their clash with the Lightning on Friday by hosting the Hawks on Saturday who are coming off a clash with the Wolves also on Friday.
Mandurah did already host Perry Lakes in the opening round of 2014 with the Magic beating the Hawks 75-58.
The Tigers and Senators then do battle with Willetton desperate to begin reaching the talent that its squad suggests it should be showing, but Stirling has now won two straight matches to sit on a 4-3 record to be in fifth position and to be building nicely.
The final game of the weekend then pits the 11-0 Flames up against the 0-11 Redbacks in Rockingham. Rockingham will be fresh playing its only game of the weekend as well while Perth is coming off a clash with Cockburn on Friday.
Rockingham also took on Perth at Belmont Oasis back in the opening weekend with the Flames winning on that occasion 94-50 to being their unbeaten season so far, and the Redbacks' their winless one to date.
WEEK 10 WOMEN'S SBL FIXTURES
FRIDAY
Perth Redbacks v Soprano Cockburn Cougars, Belmont Oasis 6.30pm
Lakeside Lightning v Mandurah Magic, Lakeside Recreation Centre 6.30pm
Perry Lakes Hawks v Joondalup Wolves, WA Basketball Centre 6.30pm
SATURDAY
Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers v Schweigen East Perth Eagles, Eaton Recreation Centre 6pm
Mandurah Magic v Perry Lakes Hawks, Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre 6pm
Willetton Tigers v Stirling Senators, Willetton Basketball Stadium 6pm
Orange Autos Rockingham Flames v Perth Redbacks, Mike Barnett Sports Complex 6.30pm
Article by Chris Pike
Comments
Comment Guidelines: The SportsTG Network is made up of players, families and passionate sports followers like you who have a strong opinion about sport. That's great - we want you to have your say and share your thoughts with the world. However, we have a few rules that you must follow to keep it fun for all. Please don't be rude, abusive, swear or vilify others. Apart from some pretty serious sport sanctions, we also can ban you and report you if things get out of hand. So play fair and have fun, and thanks for your contribution.