THE Willetton Tigers, Joondalup Wolves and Rockingham Flames continued to win atop the Women's SBL in Week 11 despite missing some key players while the Kalamunda Eastern Suns, Mandurah and Stirling Senators also recorded important victories.

The Tigers, Wolves and Flames continue to be clear as the top three teams in the Women's SBL after 11 rounds but the race for the rest of the playoff spots is heating up with the Magic and Senators winning to keep the pressure on the Redbacks, Lightning, Suns and Cougars just inside the top eight.

There were three matches on Friday night with the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves defeating the Lakeside Lightning 76-55, the Kalamunda Eastern Suns downing the Texture WA Perth Redbacks 93-88 and the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers beating the Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles 78-54.

There were another three games on Saturday with the Mandurah Magic beating the Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles 79-54, the Bethanie Stirling Senators defeating the Print Sync South West Slammers 89-85 and the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames downing the Perry Lakes Hawks 71-49.

The Week 11 results leave the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers atop the standings with an 11-1 record ahead of the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves (9-1) and Orange Autos Rockingham Flames (11-2).

The Perry Lakes Hawks (7-5) are back in fourth place having now lost three straight ahead of the Texture WA Perth Redbacks (6-6), Lakeside Lightning (5-6), Kalamunda Eastern Suns (5-6) and Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars (5-6).

The Mandurah Magic (5-7) sit just outside the top eight followed by the Bethanie Stirling Senators (5-8), Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles (1-11) and Print Sync South West Slammers (0-11).

The Team of the Week features Stacey Barr and Carley Mijovic both of the Kalamunda Eastern Suns along with Klara Wischer (Joondalup Wolves), Amber Land (Stirling Senators) and Zoe Harper (Willetton Tigers).

Barr was named to the Team of the Week for a fifth time this season after helping the Suns to an important win over the Redbacks on Friday night.

Barr delivered 34 points, eight rebounds and five assists on shooting 8-of-19 from the field, 4-of-9 from three-point territory and 14-of-17 from the free-throw line.

Mijovic was also named to the Team of the Week for the first time this season after helping Barr in leading the Suns to the win with 28 points, 10 rebounds and four assists shooting 10-of-21 from the floor, 3-of-7 from downtown and 5-of-6 at the charity stripe.

Wischer had a big game on Friday as the Lady Wolfpack beat the Lightning by 21 points and she was named to the Team of the Week for a fourth time in 2016. Wischer finished with 23 points, 12 rebounds, two blocked shots and two assists shooting 11-of-21 from the field.

The Senators also stayed in touch with a playoff spot beating the winless Slammers by four points at Warwick Stadium.

Land was the star for Stirling earning Team of the Week honours for a second time this season on the back of 25 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and three steals shooting 8-of-16 from the field, and 9-of-12 from the foul line.

The Tigers were again without Louella Tomlinson on Friday night, but Harper stepped up big to help the league-leaders beat the Eagles by 24 points. Harper was named to the Team of the Week for the first time in 2016 after 25 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots.

Other standout performances across the six matches began on Friday night with the Wolves beating the Lightning and as well as Wischer's showing, Shani Amos delivered 15 points, nine rebounds, six assists and five steals for the winners.

Amy Kidner also finished with 14 points, five rebounds and two steals for the Lady Wolfpack and Ellyce Ironmonger six points, 10 boards and six assists.

The Lightning were missing Alison Schwagmeyer, Jess van Schie and Courtney Byrnes, but Ashleigh Grant ended up with 14 points, 10 rebounds and two assists.

Devanny King contributed 13 points for Lakeside, Courtney Beavis 12 points and Tia Ucich 10 to go with six rebounds, six assists and two steals.

The Redbacks came up short against the Eastern Suns on Friday night with Rebecca Benson leading the way for Perth with 23 points, six rebounds and three assists.

Jess Jakens delivered 20 points, seven boards and three assists for the Redbacks, Ashley Gilmore 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Ajay Jones 13 points, seven boards, six assists and six steals.

On top of Harper's effort for the Tigers in the win over the Eagles on Friday, Kate Malpass finished with 15 points, five rebounds, four steals, three blocked shots and two assists.

Emma Gandini contributed 10 points (two boards, two assists, two steals), Ebony Antonio nine (five rebounds, four assists), Emma Lobb nine (seven boards, two blocks) and Lara Napier eight (four assists, three steals, two rebounds).

Jodie Milligan top-scored for East Perth on Friday with 11 points and nine rebounds with Amy Chinnery adding nine points.

Then in Saturday night's loss to the Magic, Milligan again led the way for East Perth with 13 points and seven rebounds. Haylee DeSousa also had 13 points and four boards for the Eagles.

Mandurah stayed in touch with a playoff spot with the Saturday win over East Perth with Adijat Adams starring with 24 points and 11 rebounds.

Annette Davis added 19 points, six rebounds and two steals for the Magic, Emma Klasztorny 19 points and five boards, and Casey Mihovilovich seven points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

As well as Land's starring role for the Senators on Saturday, Lyndal Gardner contributed 23 points and seven rebounds while hitting 5-of-10 three-pointers. Kara van Dyke added 18 points and Taylor Bestry 10 points, six rebounds and three assists.

The Slammers narrowly missed their first win of 2016 with Courtney Bayliss top-scoring with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Georgia Denehey added 18 points and five boards for South West and Dena English 18 points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals.

The defending champion Flames maintained their hold on third position beating the fourth placed Hawks by 22 points on Saturday despite still being without Darcee Garbin and Ifunanya Ibekwe.

Sami Whitcomb again led the way with 26 points, seven assists, five rebounds and five steals on an efficient 10-of-14 shooting from the floor and 4-of-6 from downtown despite 10 turnovers.

Ashlee Sidebottom also had 15 points for Rockingham and Jacinta Bourne 13 along with eight rebounds, five steals and three assists despite nine turnovers.

Lauren Jeffers top-scored for the Hawks with 16 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals with Kate Anthony contributing 13 points, three boards and three steals.

WEEK 11 WOMEN'S TEAM OF THE WEEK
Stacey Barr (Kalamunda Eastern Suns)
Klara Wischer (Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves)
Amber Land (Bethanie Stirling Senators)
Carley Mijovic (Kalamunda Eastern Suns)
Zoe Harper (Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers)

FRIDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Lakeside Lightning 55 lost to Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves 76
Texture WA Perth Redbacks 88 lost to Kalamunda Eastern Suns 93
Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers 78 defeated Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles 54

SATURDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles 54 lost to Mandurah Magic 79
Bethanie Stirling Senators 89 defeated Print Sync South West Slammers 85
Orange Autos Rockingham Flames 71 defeated Perry Lakes Hawks 49

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Deprimo Photography