WEEK 12 of the Women's SBL included last year's grand finalists Willetton and Rockingham both losing with the South West Slammers winning their first game of 2016 and concluded with the North All-Stars winning the WA Day All-Star game on Monday.

The Week 12 action began on Friday night with the Kalamunda Eastern Suns defeating the Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles 91-42 and the Texture WA Perth Redbacks winning a thriller 61-60 over the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames.

Then on Saturday night, the Lakeside Lightning beat the Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars 94-79, the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves downed the Mandurah Magic 65-61 and the Perry Lakes Hawks defeated the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers 76-69.

There was just the one game on Sunday with the Print Sync South West Slammers winning their first game of 2016 defeating the Bethanie Stirling Senators 59-55 at Eaton Recreation Centre.

Then on Monday, the Women's All-Star Game for 2016 took place at Bendat Basketball Centre with the North All-Stars making up for their loss last year, beating the South All-Stars 93-70.

Following Week 12, the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves have moved to the top of the Women's standings with a 10-1 record and nine-game winning streak.

The Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers (11-2) have slipped to second spot with the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames (11-3) remaining third.

The Perry Lakes Hawks (8-5) also stay in fourth spot ahead of the Texture WA Perth Redbacks (7-6), Lakeside Lightning (6-6), Kalamunda Eastern Suns (6-6) and Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars (5-7).

The Mandurah Magic (5-8) are just outside a playoff position followed by the Bethanie Stirling Senators (5-9), Print Sync South West Slammers (1-11) and Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles (1-12).

The Player of the Week is Ashleigh Grant of the Lakeside Lightning. The Lightning scored an impressive and important 15-point win over the Cougars on Saturday night with Grant delivering 24 points, 15 rebounds, six blocked shots and four assists shooting 10-of-17 from the floor and making both her three-point attempts.

Other standout performances started on Friday night with the Redbacks winning a thriller over the defending champion Flames by a point. Rebecca Benson top-scored with 15 points for the Redbacks to go with three assists and three rebounds.

Gabby O'Sullivan contributed 12 points, five rebounds and four assists for Perth, and Ashley Gilmore 10 points and 14 boards.

Sami Whitcomb top-scored for Rockingham with 20 points and 14 rebounds with Jacinta Bourne adding 15 points, five rebounds and four steals, and Ashlee Sidebottom 10 points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots.

The Eastern Suns had a 49-point win over the Eagles also on Friday night with Carley Mijovic the star for the home team with 31 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots.

Stacey Barr contributed 19 points for Kalamunda, Jaimee Rich 11 points and five boards, and Natalia Soli'ai eight points and nine rebounds.

Jodee Sontay top-scored for the Eagles with 15 points and five rebounds.

On Saturday night, the Hawks handed the Tigers just their second loss of the season with Kate Anthony leading the way with 17 points and five rebounds for Perry Lakes.

Sarah Donovan contributed 16 points for the Hawks, Emily Burton 15 and Deanna Smith 10 to go with nine rebounds, seven assists and five steals.

Lara Napier top-scored for the Tigers with 20 points, five rebounds, five steals and three assists. Kate Malpass added 18 points and seven assists for Willetton, Emma Gandini 17 points and seven boards, and Zoe Harper 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Lady Wolfpack won a tight affair by four points over the Magic with Amy Kidner the standout in the win with 26 points, eight rebounds and four steals shooting 12-of-19 from the field.

Ellyce Ironmonger finished with 13 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots for Joondalup, Nikita-Lee Martin 10 points, eight boards and six assists, Klara Wischer seven points and 12 rebounds, and Shani Amos six points, six boards and six assists.

Adijat Adams top-scored for the Magic with 20 points and 15 rebounds with Emma Klasztorny adding 15 points and five boards, Casey Mihovilovich 11 points and four rebounds, and Annette Davis nine points along with nine boards.

The Lightning beat the Cougars on Saturday night and not only was Ashleigh Grant terrific for Lakeside, but Alison Schwagmeyer contributed 21 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Courtney Byrnes added 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals, Devanny King 16 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, and Tia Ucich nine points, four boards and three assists.

Candace Williams had a huge game for the Cougars despite the loss with 41 points, 18 rebounds, four assists and two steals shooting 15-of-26 from the field, and 11-of-15 from the foul line.

Cherridy Thornton contributed 19 points and nine rebounds for Cockburn with Isabelle Miotti adding seven points, three rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

Then on Sunday, the Slammers got their first win of 2016 at the hands of the Senators with Courtney Bayliss leading the way for South West with 13 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two blocked shots and two steals.

Dena English contributed 13 points, six rebounds and six assists, Brittany Gliddon nine points and seven boards, and Meg Ferraz nine points and five rebounds.

Kara van Dyke top-scored for the Senators with 17 points and six rebounds with Taylor Bestry adding 11 points and eight boards, Chelsea Armstrong 11 points and Amber Land 11 points and 20 rebounds.

The long weekend concluded with the All-Star Game on Monday with the North All-Stars beating the South by 23 points.

Klara Wischer claimed the MVP award following 17 points and eight rebounds for the North All-Stars. Taylor Bestry added 14 points, Rebecca Benson 13, Stacey Barr nine (seven rebounds, four assists), Jess Jakens eight (11 boards), Nikita-Lee Martin eight, Ajay Jones six (four steals, three rebounds) and Shani Amos six (six assists).

Candace Williams ended up top-scoring for the South All-Stars with 16 points and 16 rebounds. Casey Mihovilovich added 15 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Adijat Adams also had 10 points and nine rebounds, Ashleigh Grant eight points and 12 boards, Courtney Byrnes seven points and five rebounds, and Cherridy Thornton six points and eight boards.

Earlier, Deanna Smith won the three-point shootout.

WEEK 12 WOMEN'S PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ashleigh Grant (Lakeside Lightning)

FRIDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Kalamunda Eastern Suns 91 defeated Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles 42
Orange Autos Rockingham Flames 60 lost to Texture WA Perth Redbacks 61

SATURDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Lakeside Lightning 94 defeated Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars 79
Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves 65 defeated Mandurah Magic 61
Perry Lakes Hawks 76 defeated Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers 69

SUNDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Print Sync South West Slammers 59 defeated Bethanie Stirling Senators 55

WOMEN'S SBL ALL-STAR MATCH
North All-Stars 93 defeated South All-Stars 70

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Mick Cronin