THERE are seven crucial women's matches across Week 15 of the 2014 SBL season highlighted by Kalamunda's battles against Rockingham and Cockburn along with the Cougars' also facing the Stirling Senators on Friday.

With the Rockingham Flames and Lakeside Lightning looking relatively settled in second, the Joondalup Wolves, Stirling Senators, Mandurah Magic, Kalamunda Eastern Suns and Cockburn Cougars are all locked in a battle over that coveted third position.

The Week 15 action begins with four massive matches on Friday night all tipping off at 6.30pm.

The Perth Redbacks take on the Lakeside Lightning at Belmont Oasis, the Mandurah Magic face the Schweigen East Perth Eagles at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre, the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames battle the Kalamunda Eastern Suns at Mike Barnett Sports Complex and the Soprano Lady Cougars battle the Stirling Senators at Wally Hagan Stadium.

The winless Redbacks host a Lightning team that looks quite secure in second position, but Perth has been getting more competitive as the 2014 season has rolled on despite the lack of a win.

The Redbacks have lost their 16 matches of the season to date while the Lightning are two games clear of Joondalup in second position in the standings with a 12-3 record and will be looking to stay there with another win on Friday.

However, the Lightning's three losses this season have all come on the road.

The two teams met back in Week 9 with Lakeside scoring a thumping 88-42 victory at home.

The standings might suggest also that the Magic's clash with the Eagles is a mismatch, but Mandurah needs to bounce back to keep its top four hopes alive.

The Magic lost to both the Rockingham Flames and Cockburn Cougars last weekend to slip to a 10-6 record on the season and to fifth position as they prepare to host the 2-14 Eagles who are now on a 10-match losing streak themselves.

Even though Mandurah is at home for the clash, given it has won just three of six matches there this season that might not be the advantage the Magic would hope.

The Magic and Eagles already met back in Week 4 with Mandurah winning on that occasion in a tight contest, 77-70.

The unbeaten Flames take on the also in-form Eastern Suns in what should be a tantalising contest.

Rockingham has won its opening 17 matches of the season including nine at home to be five games clear on top of the standings but Kalamunda came into the season hoping to be a championship contender, and are now starting to show some of that form to be considered a chance.

The Eastern Suns have now won three straight matches to improve to a 9-7 record and they do need to keep winning with finishing in third position still a distinct possibility.

The Flames and Eastern Suns already met this year back in Week 6 with Rockingham prevailing away from home on that occasion 94-64.

The Cougars and Senators are two more teams right in the mix for a top three finish as well.

Cockburn has now won its last two matches to improve to an 8-7 record on the season in seventh position while Stirling is in fourth spot with a 9-5 record despite having lost two of its last three matches.

The round then concludes with three matches on Saturday night starting with the Joondalup Wolves facing the Perry Lakes Hawks at Joondalup Basketball Stadium and the Schweigen East Perth Eagles host the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.

Both those matches tip-off at 6pm and then at 6.30pm, the Kalamunda Eastern Suns battle the Soprano Lady Cougars at Ray Owen Sports Centre.

The Wolves and Hawks both make their first appearances of the weekend against one another on Saturday night with plenty at stake.

Joondalup enters Week 15 in third position with the defending champions holding a 10-4 record but only narrowly ahead of the chasing Stirling, Mandurah and Kalamunda.

Meanwhile, the Hawks just need to win to keep their playoff hopes alive with Perry Lakes currently holding a 5-10 record in ninth position. The Hawks also have won just once from six attempts away from the WA Basketball Centre this season.

The teams met earlier this season in Week 10 at the WA Basketball Centre with the Wolves winning that contest 83-63.

The Eagles have to back up playing in Mandurah on Friday by then hosting the Slammers on Saturday.

The Slammers enter the game in eighth position in the standings with a 6-10 record but they are still looking for their first victory on the road having lost their opening seven attempts so far in 2014.

The Slammers won the first clash between the two teams this season back in Week 10 recording a 60-47 victory at Eaton Recreation Centre.

The Eastern Suns and Cougars both have to back up matches on Friday night as well on Saturday with plenty at stake again for both.

Both the Suns and Cougars remain a chance to finish in third position but a loss on Saturday night could be a big blow to those hopes.

The two teams opened the 2014 campaign by playing one another with the Cougars winning on that occasion 72-62 at Wally Hagan Stadium.

WEEK 15 WOMEN'S SBL FIXTURES
FRIDAY
Perth Redbacks v Lakeside Lightning, Belmont Oasis 6.30pm
Mandurah Magic v Schweigen East Perth Eagles, Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre 6.30pm
Orange Autos Rockingham Flames v Kalamunda Eastern Suns, Mike Barnett Sports Complex 6.30pm
Soprano Lady Cougars v Stirling Senators, Wally Hagan Stadium 6.30pm

SATURDAY
Joondalup Wolves v Perry Lakes Hawks, Joondalup Basketball Stadium 6pm
Schweigen East Perth Eagles v Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers, Morley Sport and Recreation Centre 6pm
Kalamunda Eastern Suns v Soprano Lady Cougars, Ray Owen Sports Centre 6.30pm

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Deprimo Photography