SAMI Whitcomb, Louella Tomlinson and Rebecca Mercer all had monster games for the top three women's teams in Week 18 while the East Perth Eagles won twice, including a double overtime thriller, to continue to push towards a playoff appearances with two rounds remaining.

The Rockingham Flames, led by Whitcomb, the Willetton Tigers, led by Tomlinson, and the Joondalup Wolves, led by Mercer, all continued their form as the best three teams in the women's SBL on the weekend, but the Eagles recorded two exciting wins.

The Eagles are locked in a battle with the South West Slammers and Perry Lakes Hawks over the remaining two playoff spots, and they beat both of them in Week 18 to set up a fascinating final two rounds.

The two women's matches on Friday night saw the Perry Lakes Hawks beat the Stirling Senators 80-51 at Bendat Basketball Centre, and the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames defeat the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 94-45 at Ray Owen Sports Centre.

The four women's matches on Saturday night saw the Mandurah Magic defeat the Perth Redbacks 73-63 at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre, the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers beat the Stirling Senators 80-56 at Warwick Leisure Centre and the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves down the Soprano Designs Cockburn Cougars 103-50 at Joondalup Basketball Stadium.

And in an incredible double overtime thriller, the Schweigen East Perth Eagles kept their season alive beating the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers 88-87 at Eaton Recreation Centre.

The lone Sunday women's match saw the Schweigen East Perth Eagles continue to make a charge for the playoffs with a 77-71 win over the Perry Lakes Hawks at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.

The weekend's results leave the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames (19-1) on top of the standings just ahead of the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers (18-2) and the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves (16-4).

The Mandurah Magic (14-5) and Kalamunda Eastern Suns (12-8) remain battling over fourth position ahead of their likely quarter-final match up.

The Soprano Designs Cockburn Cougars (9-12), Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers (8-11) and Perry Lakes Hawks (8-12) currently round out the top-eight but the Schweigen East Perth Eagles (8-13) are right in contention now.

The Perth Redbacks (4-16), Stirling Senators (4-17) and Lakeside Lightning (1-20) are the three teams out of playoff contention with two rounds of the regular season remaining.

While Sami Whitcomb continued her stunning recent form for the Flames on Friday night, there were a host of other standout individual performers across the weekend as well.

On Friday night, Kassi Conditt led the way for the Hawks in the big win with 24 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocked shots. Danika Pisconeri added 13 points, seven boards and six assists also for Perry Lakes on the back of shooting 6-of-8 from the floor.

Lauren Jeffers also had 11 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds and two steals for the Hawks while Sarah Donovan contributed nine points and seven boards, and Mia Satie seven points and eight rebounds.

Amber Land top-scored for the Senators with 16 points and 10 rebounds with Emma Berryman contributing 11 points, Cassie Bates nine and Tegan Walker eight to go with six rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Sami Whitcomb continued her remarkable form for the Flames with another 38 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals in the big win on the back of shooting 14-of-23 from the field, 7-of-13 from beyond the arc and 3-of-3 from the foul line.

The reigning women's SBL MVP has now averaged 35.8 points over her last six games in the absence of centre Darcee Garbin.

Jacinta Bourne also contributed 17 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and five steals for Rockingham with Mary-Alice Telfer adding 10 points and four boards, Kate Williams nine points and four rebounds, and Talisia Bourne six points, six boards and four assists.

Abbey Duinker top-scored for the Eastern Suns with 14 points and seven rebounds with Jessie Edwards adding 11 points and 12 boards.

Then on Saturday night, Kelsey Maffin nailed the game-winning three in the second overtime period for the Eagles against the Slammers.

Denielle Lipscombe ended up top-scoring for the Eagles with 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists while Nicole Jorre St Jorre contributed 17 points, 10 boards and seven assists, Maffin 14 points and five rebounds, and Haylee DeSousa 12 points off the bench.

Patricia Bright had a massive night for the Slammers with 36 points, 13 rebounds and three steals with Kate Fielding adding 20 points, eight boards and eight assists, and Bianca Donovan 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Ashlee Sidebottom top-scored for the Magic with 19 points while shooting 8-of-13 from the field. Casey Mihovilovich added 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists for Mandurah while Peyton Davis added 12 points and eight boards.

Gabby O'Sullivan top-scored for the Redbacks with 17 points while Meike Elkington contributed 13 points and seven boards, and Gaby Clayton 11 points and six rebounds.

Rebecca Mercer had a big night for the Wolves with 31 points on the back of shooting 12-of-15 from the field and 6-of-8 from three-point territory.

Casey Lockwood contributed 14 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals off the bench for the Lady Wolfpack with Shani Amos adding 12 points, five boards and three assists, Nikita-Lee Martin 12 points and five rebounds, and Chelsea Burns 11 points, six boards, six assists and three steals.

Ellyce Ironmonger also added seven points and 14 rebounds in the big win for Joondalup.

Playing-coach Deanna Smith top-scored for the Cougars with 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals while Katie Loberg added 12 points, Kirsty Pitcher nine and Taryn Priestly eight.

Louella Tomlinson had another monster game for the Tigers finishing with 29 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, six blocked shots and three steals on the back of shooting 10-of-19 from the field, and 3-of-5 from three-point territory.

Lisa Wallbutton contributed 10 points and five rebounds off the bench while Kate Malpass added 10 points, eight boards, three assists and three steals.

Kate Malpass also finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals for the Tigers while Ebony Antonio had seven points, six boards and two assists.

Lyndal Gardner led the way for the Senators with 20 points and four rebounds with Amber Land working hard for 14 points and 21 boards. Cassie Bates added 12 points, and Sally Heitman five points, six rebounds and three assists.

Finally on Sunday, Nicole Jorre St Jorre had a terrific afternoon for the Eagles with 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists on the back of shooting 8-of-15 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line.

Fresh off hitting the winner in double overtime on Saturday night, Kelsey Maffin backed it up with 20 points on Sunday as well as three rebounds and two steals on the back of 3-of-5 from beyond the arc for East Perth.

Jodee Sontay added eight points and six rebounds for the Eagles as well.

Sarah Donovan top-scored for the Hawks with 20 points and six rebounds with Lauren Jeffers adding 15 points and five assists, and Kassi Conditt 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Danika Pisconeri also contributed six points, eight rebounds and two assists for East Perth.

FRIDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Perry Lakes Hawks 80 defeated Stirling Senators 51
Kalamunda Eastern Suns 45 lost to Orange Autos Rockingham Flames 94

SATURDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Mandurah Magic 73 defeated Perth Redbacks 63
Stirling Senators 56 lost to Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers 80
Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers 87 lost to Schweigen East Perth Eagles 88
Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves 103 defeated Soprano Designs Cockburn Cougars 50

SUNDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Schweigen East Perth Eagles 77 defeated Perry Lakes Hawks 71

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Serene-Elise Photography