THE defending champion Rockingham Flames won twice in Week 13 to be on a six-game winning streak and on top of the women's SBL while the Kalamunda Eastern Suns further secured fifth spot with a seventh straight win as well.

The action on Friday night got underway with four women's matches and that included the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames defeating the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers 90-58 at Mike Barnett Sports Complex and the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers beating the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves 71-65 at Willetton Basketball Stadium.

The Kalamunda Eastern Suns also beat the Perth Redbacks 75-56 at Curtin Stadium and the Soprano Designs won a low-scoring affair 51-36 over the Lakeside Lightning at Wally Hagan Stadium.

There were two women's matches on Saturday night to close out Week 13 and it saw the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames defeat the Perry Lakes Hawks 75-69 at Bendat Basketball Centre and the Schweigen East Perth Eagles beat the Stirling Senators 82-65 at Warwick Leisure Centre.

The weekend's results leave the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames (13-1) out on top of the women's SBL standings ahead of the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers (12-2), Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves (12-3) and Mandurah Magic (11-3).

Making up the rest of the top eight are the Kalamunda Eastern Suns (8-5), Perry Lakes Hawks (6-7), Soprano Designs Cockburn Cougars (7-9) and Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers (6-8).

Then outside the top eight are the Schweigen East Perth Eagles (4-10), Perth Redbacks (3-12), Stirling Senators (2-12) and Lakeside Lightning (1-13).

There were again some outstanding individual performances across the two nights of action starting on Friday with Jacinta Bourne having a massive evening for the Flames with 27 points and eight rebounds while shooting 9-of-14 from the field, and 4-of-7 from three-point territory.

Darcee Garbin added 20 points, four boards and three assists as well for Rockingham with Samantha Whitcomb contributing 14 points and nine rebounds, and Talisia Bourne nine points and eight boards.

Deonica McCormick fought hard for the Slammers with 16 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals with Patricia Bright adding 14 points and 12 boards.

Lara Napier led the way for the Tigers finishing with 18 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals while nailing 6-of-10 from the floor.

Kate Malpass added 17 points, four boards, four assists and three steals as well for Willetton while Louella Tomlinson contributed 12 points, five rebounds and five assists, Zoe Harper 10 points, six boards and five blocked shots, and Lisa Wallbutton 10 points and 17 rebounds.

Rebecca Mercer finished with 13 points for the Wolves with Nikita-Lee Martin adding 13 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots.

Melissa Moyle ended up top-scoring for the Suns with 17 points, five rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocked shots in a strong all-round performance.

Abbey Duinker added 16 points as well for the Eastern Suns while Jessie Edwards contributed 11 points, 15 rebounds and a massive eight blocked shots. Madeleine Dennis also finished with 11 points and four rebounds for Kalamunda.

Gabby O'Sullivan top-scored for the Redbacks with 18 points while Gaby Clayton finished with 13 points, 10 boards, four assists and three steals. Jess Jakens also finished with eight points and five boards for Perth.

Abbie McDonald led the way for the Cougars off the bench finishing with 16 points and 13 rebounds with Katie Loberg adding 10 points, Alyce Roberts eight and Kristen Everard seven to go with eight rebounds.

Megan Craig was the only player for the Lightning to score in double-figures finishing with 11 points and eight rebounds while Ashleigh Grant added eight points and 16 boards.

Then on Saturday night, Samantha Whitcomb top-scored for the Flames in their second win of the weekend with 17 points, 11 rebounds and three assists.

Jacinta Bourne added 14 points, nine boards, five assists and five steals as well for Rockingham with Lizel Buckley contributing 12 points and six rebounds, and Kate Williams 10 points.

Lauren Jeffers had a big night for the Hawks in their narrow loss against the defending champions, and she finished with 27 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Sarah Donovan added 10 points and nine boards off the bench with Kassi Conditt contributing 10 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Kelsey Maffin led the way for the Lady Eagles finishing the night with 19 points while Jodee Sontay contributed 15 points and five rebounds, Nicole Jorre St Jorre 14 points, seven boards, seven assists and three steals, and Dannielle Devenny 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Haylee DeSousa also added nine points, four rebounds and two steals for East Perth with Denielle Lipscombe also finishing with eight points, seven boards and three assists.

Tegan Walker top-scored for the Senators with 22 points, six rebounds and three assists with Amber Land contributing 18 points and 12 boards, and Cassie Bates 10 points, five rebounds and three steals.

FRIDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Orange Autos Rockingham Flames 90 defeated Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers 58
Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers 71 defeated Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves 65
Perth Redbacks 56 lost to Kalamunda Eastern Suns 75
Soprano Designs Cockburn Cougars 51 defeated Lakeside Lightning 36

SATURDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Perry Lakes Hawks 69 lost to Orange Autos Rockingham Flames 75
Stirling Senators 65 lost to Schweigen East Perth Eagles 82

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Mick Cronin