Willetton barely escape (Round 13 WSBL Wrap)
Southlands Boulevarde Willetton Tigers survived a couple of scares to continue their dominant women's State Basketball League form in round 13 action.
The defending champions and league leaders needed overtime to beat Perth Redbacks 80-78 and had to come from behind to beat bottom four side Western Stainless Stirling Senators 74-60.
The Tigers were missing WNBL players Kate Malpass and Ebony Antonio and their absence nearly proved costly, as their side had to overturn a six-point half-time deficit to beat Stirling. But they outscored the Senators 37-17 in the second half to improve their record to 14-1 for the season.
Perth led for much of its match with Willetton the night before and a Narelle Henry four-point play in the final seconds sent the game to overtime, but Jasmine Hooper hit a pair of free-throws at the end of the extra period to seal the thrilling win.
And the Redbacks also blew a nine-point lead to lose 81-75 to Australian Central East Perth Eagles.
Samantha Norwood had 25 points to lead sixth-placed East Perth's comeback, while eighth-placed Perth suffered its fourth loss from its past five games despite Brooke Hiddlestone's 19 points.
Mandurah Magic continued their outstanding form by beating Stirling 79-53 and Lakeside Lightning 89-72.
Casey Mihovilovich had 18 points to help third-placed Mandurah overcome an outstanding performance from Michelle Joy (19 points and nine rebounds) and beat the Senators.
And the Magic then extended their winning streak to six games against Lakeside, as Hailey Dunham (22 points) led them past the struggling Lightning, who have lost five of their past six games.
Fellow top four side Total Connections Perry Lakes Hawks have a five-game winning streak after thrashing Southwest Slammers 94-40.
Christine Boyd (23 points and 12 rebounds) led the second-placed Hawks to the comfortable win and helped to hand the Slammers their 14th-consecutive loss.
And Rebecca Mercer helped Glasscraft Wanneroo Wolves keep their spot in the top four with 21 points in her side's 67-42 win against Rockingham Flames, which was their fifth-consecutive victory.
Talisia Bourne had 15 points for the struggling Flames, who remain in last place after their fourth-consecutive loss.
Article by Jacob Kagi
Photo by Ashley Pearce (Vision Inspired Photography)
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