THE women's SBL grand final for 2015 is set with the Rockingham Flames and Willetton Tigers booking their spots after winning Game 2 of their respective semi-final matches on Friday night.

The Flames and Tigers were the two standout teams in the competition throughout 2015 only separated in the final standings by a solitary point, and they now will play off in next Friday night's grand final at Bendat Basketball Centre having not lost a game in the first two playoff rounds.

Both Game 2 women's semi-final matches took place on Friday night with the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers beating the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves 68-62 at Willetton Basketball Stadium.

The Orange Autos Rockingham Flames also beat the Mandurah Magic 80-51 at Mike Barnett Sports Complex to see the semi-final series both end in two games and the Flames and Tigers set up a highly-anticipated grand final meeting on Friday night.

The Tigers only missed out on the minor premiership by one solitary point and then downed the Perry Lakes Hawks in the quarter finals in two games before winning the semi-final Game 1 82-68 at Joondalup Basketball Stadium last Saturday night.

Then on Friday night, the Lady Wolfpack got off to a fast start outscoring the Tigers 25-14 in the first quarter and then still held on to a 42-27 lead at the main break.

However, Willetton lifted in the second quarter with 23 points to 15 in the third period to trail by seven points, and then dominated the fourth stanza holding Joondalup to just five points and scoring 18 to end up winning by six to qualify for the grand final.

Kate Malpass had a monster night for the Tigers ending up with 29 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals on the back of shooting 11-of-25 from the field and 2-of-4 from beyond the three-point arc.

Louella Tomlinson also added 11 points, nine rebounds, five blocked shots and three assists for Willetton while Zoe Harper finished with 10 points and eight boards.

Shani Amos worked hard for the Wolves with 14 points and six rebounds while Casey Lockwood contributed 14 points, four boards and three assists.

Antonia Edmondson also finished with 12 points and five rebounds for Joondalup while Ellyce Ironmonger added nine points and 12 boards, and Nikita-Lee Martin seven points, eight rebounds and five assists.

The Flames have backed up last year's championship win by claiming the minor premiership for 2015 and then downing the Cockburn Cougars in two games in the quarter finals, and then winning semi-final Game 1 over the Magic 90-70 last Saturday night at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre.

On Friday night in Game 2, it was a tight opening quarter but then the Flames put some distance between the two teams in the second quarter to head into half-time leading 36-25.

It was more of the same in the second half from Rockingham with the Flames scoring 23 to 15 in the third period, and another 21 to 11 in the fourth to cruise to the 29-point victory and advance to the grand final against a Magic team who deserves to be proud of their efforts right throughout 2015.

Reigning MVP Sami Whitcomb again led the way for the Flames with 24 points, eight steals and six rebounds while Darcee Garbin continued her terrific form with another 18 points and seven boards.

Jacinta Bourne added 12 points, four assists, three steals and three rebounds for Rockingham with Tarsha Fletcher contributing 11 points, nine boards and four assists.

Peyton Davis was the only Magic player to score in double-figures and that was off the bench as she recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Ashlee Sidebottom added eight points and seven rebounds for Mandurah, Briana Klasztorny eight points and eight boards, and Casey Mihovilovich six points, six rebounds and three assists.

FRIDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers 68 defeated Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves 62
Orange Autos Rockingham Flames 80 defeated Mandurah Magic 51

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by June Halliday