Eastern Mavericks (7-2, 2nd) v Woodville Warriors (3-6, 7th)
Saturday June 15, 6.30pm at Adelaide Hills

The Eastern Mavericks women will be attempting to equal their 2012 home wins total when they host the Woodville Warriors.

The Mavericks are sitting pretty in second position with a 7-2 record. A Round 9 loss would have knocked them down to the bottom four, but they showed their credentials by holding on to beat North by a point at Hillcrest.

The Warriors started the season with four losses, but have since shown they are one of the better teams in the bottom five with three wins in their last five games. They beat Southern 64-56 in Round 9.

Last time they met, Tess Madgen had a typical Tess Madgen game as the Mavericks won 66-52. Madgen had 43 points, 16 rebounds and 5 assists, while Katherine Perkas was the Warriors’ best with 13 points and 9 rebounds.

Madgen’s support cast has grown stronger as the season has gone on. Shannon Tarran’s 30 points against the Rockets marked the fourth time this season that she has registered a new career high, while Amanda McDermott had 14 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds in Game 250.

In terms of the Warriors, Jasmine Howe is coming off a career high 14 points. She has scored in double figures four times in her first nine CABL games.

The Mavericks should not have too much trouble acquiring win number eight.

North Adelaide Rockets (6-3, 4th) v South Adelaide Panthers (0-9, 10th)
Saturday June 15, 6.30pm at Hillcrest

Fresh off accumulating by far the highest losing score of 2013, North Adelaide will be eager to return to winning form this week against the Panthers.

The Rockets’ 90 points scored in a one point loss to Eastern was their third 90+ point outing in the last three games. They won the other two easily, however, Sturt’s 79 points is no longer the largest total by a losing team. On a positive note, Genna Anderson had her best game as a Rocket with 19 points on 8/10 FG and 6 rebounds.

The Panthers’ loss to Centrals has relegated them to the bottom of the ladder. They have not won a home game since July 16, 2011.

Back in Round 1, the Panthers went down to the Rockets 62-83. Jamie-Lee Peris had 29 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, while Panther Teresa Kinross had 19 points and 7 rebounds. The Rockets’ win was achieved without Jo Hill, who has had seven double-doubles in her eight games since.

The Rockets should sweep South for the second consecutive season.

Southern Tigers (2-7, 8th) v Norwood Flames (9-0, 1st)
Saturday June 15, 6.30pm at Morphett Vale

With a record percentage well within their grasp, the Norwood Flames will be dedicated to another big win when they visit the Southern Tigers.

The 2011 Flames, who had a percentage of 157.91 at this point in the season, ended the year with a percentage of 146.65 – the best figure in the last eight seasons. The 2013 Flames’ current percentage is 171.52.

Only one team (West Adelaide) has come within single figures of the Flames, while only one other (North Adelaide) has been defeated by less than 20. Fellow top five sides Eastern, Sturt and Forestville have crashed to 36, 34 and 30 point losses respectively.

After starting the season 2-2, the Tigers have fallen to five straight losses. They competed hard against Woodville in Round 9, but a 17-25 first quarter told the story.

In Round 1, the Flames had an easy 86-29 win over the Tigers. Five players scored in double figures, led by Jess Foley with 18 and Jessica Good with 15. Denelle Fawcett and Stana Zecevic, who have been the Tigers’ two best performers this season, were held to 10 points between them.

An improvement on their last result would be a positive for the Tigers.

Central District Lions (1-8, 9th) v Sturt Sabres (7-2, 3rd)
Saturday June 15, 6.30pm at Starplex

Central Districts will hope to build on their maiden victory in Round 9 in this week’s clash with the Sturt Sabres.

After eight winless encounters, the Lions held off a fast-finishing South Adelaide to win 66-62. Demi Skinner could prove to be a real find, scoring 17 points in her first game. She was well supported by the ever reliable Tamika Dukes (22 points, 8 rebounds).

The Sabres have suffered a couple of bad losses since an impressive 5-0 start, but bounced back with a 78-44 win over West that has given them huge breathing space over the bottom five. Aneeka Smith, Amy Shaw and Hannah Richards combined for 43 points.

Last time they met, the Lions were within six points at ¾ time, before falling 8-18 in the last period and losing 52-68. Dukes had 22 points and 13 rebounds, while Smith, Bowley and Shaw were again the big three scorers for Sturt.

The Sabres should have a bigger win this time and improve their winning percentage to .800.

 

Forestville Eagles (6-3, 5th) v West Adelaide Bearcats (4-5, 6th)
Saturday June 15, 6.30pm at Wayville

In the Match of the Round, the Bearcats will put their ninth life on the line when they attempt to conquer Forestville.

With the Eagles fifth and the Bearcats sixth, a Bearcat win would have them one game behind last season’s Preliminary Finalists and knocking on the door of the top five. However, a loss would see them three games plus head-to-head back, and practically confine them to a second straight season without finals.

Both teams enter this match on the back of season high defeats. The Eagles went down 50-80 against Norwood. With Mia Newley out of the line-up, Olivia Thompson tried to steer the ship for a second successive match. However, her 14 points and 15 rebounds were not enough to keep the blue in the match for more than a quarter.

The Bearcats finished 34 points short of Sturt, with Ashlea Vordermaier and Alana Nairn scoring 11 apiece. They kept the game tight in the first and third quarters, but were blown away in the second and fourth.

Last time they met, the Eagles rode a 17-6 third quarter in winning 57-41. Thompson and Newley combined for 34 points and 21 rebounds, while Vordermaier had 10 and 7 for the Bearcats.

The Eagles to take this one and sew up their spot in the five.