THE Perry Lakes Hawks beat the defending champion Willetton Tigers in a thriller in the Women's SBL on Friday night while the Perth Redbacks, Mandurah Magic and Lakeside Lightning scored strong wins.

The highlight encounter of the evening took place at Bendat Basketball Centre and it didn’t disappoint with the Perry Lakes Hawks defeating the Willetton Tigers 81-79.

The other Friday night games saw the Perth Redbacks beat the East Perth Eagles 72-56 at Belmont Oasis, the Mandurah Magic down the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 91-57 at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre and the Lakeside Lightning prevail 81-62 over the Rockingham Flames at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.

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Starting at Belmont Oasis, the Redbacks won their second straight game and are now building some momentum having downed the Eagles by 16 points on their home floor.

Emilee Harmon had a good night for Perth with 20 points, nine rebounds and five steals but she had plenty of help.

Rebecca Benson added 14 points for the Redbacks, Ajay Johnson 12 (10 steals) and Bianca Donovan nine.

Eryn Fisher was impressive for the Eagles with 11 points and four rebounds with Brianna Fisher adding 10 points.

Jodee Sontay also finished with 10 points and five rebounds for East Perth and Elainah Coffin 10 to go with eight boards, five assists and two steals.

Mandurah then celebrated its first game at the redeveloped Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre in style with the Magic women beating the Eastern Suns by 34 points on the back of scoring 50 points to 25 in the second half.

Nici Gilday was the star of the night for the Magic in her first game in the building with 33 points and five rebounds shooting 11-of-17 from the field, 3-of-5 from three-point range and 8-of-9 from the charity stripe.

Carly Boag also delivered 20 points, 11 rebounds and four steals for the Magic while Rachel Halleen added 13 points and Casey Mihovilovich nine to go with six assists, three rebounds and two steals.

Melissa Moyle put up some strong numbers for Kalamunda with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Tahlia Fejo also had 17 points and five steals with Jennie Rintala contributing 13 points and seven boards, and Rachel Brooks six points. But no other Suns player scored outside of those four.

The night's thriller took place at Bendat Basketball Centre between two teams with every reason to expect to be contenders in 2017.

Little separated them all night but it was Perry Lakes who prevailed for the two-point win on their home floor to remain unbeaten this season.

Nat Burton top-scored for the Lady Hawks with 17 points and 10 rebounds while Kate Anthony finished with 15 points, Sarah Donovan 14 and eight rebounds, and Toni Edmondson 13points, nine boards and four assists.

Janique Kautsky added 10 points and three assists off the bench for Perry Lakes with Lauren Jeffers also having seven points, seven assists and five rebounds.

Stacey Barr had her second straight remarkable performance for the Tigers since the conclusion of her AFL Women's season with the Fremantle Dockers. She finished with 43 points and eight rebounds shooting 11-of-19 from the floor, 4-of-11 from deep and 9-of-11 from the stripe.

Kate Malpass added 11 points and six steals for Willetton with Sophie Maines finishing with 11 points and seven rebounds.

The Lightning then continued to show good signs with a 19-point win in Rockingham over the Flames on the back of a 41-point to 23 second half.

Lakeside's imports were terrific with Sydnee Fipps finishing with 21 points and seven rebounds while reigning MVP Ali Schwagmeyer had 21 points, 14 boards and six assists.

Paris Duffield contributed 13 points off the bench for Lakeside as well with Tia Ucich finishing with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Jacinta Bourne top-scored for the Flames with 24 points and rebounds with Dena English contributing 15 points and four assists, Chelsea Armstrong eight points and 10 rebounds, and Ella Kennedy seven points and seven boards.

There is just the one game in the Women's SBL on Saturday night with the East Perth Eagles playing the Joondalup Wolves at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.

Then on Sunday the Stirling Senators play the South West Slammers.

FRIDAY NIGHT ROUND 4 WOMEN'S SBL RESULTS
Perth Redbacks 72 defeated East Perth Eagles 56
Perry Lakes Hawks 81 defeated Willetton Tigers 79
Mandurah Magic 91 defeated Kalamunda Eastern Suns 57
Rockingham Flames 62 lost to Lakeside Lightning 81

SATURDAY NIGHT ROUND 4 WOMEN'S SBL FIXTURES
East Perth Eagles v Joondalup Wolves – Morley Sport and Recreation Centre 6pm

SUNDAY ROUND 4 WOMEN'S SBL FIXTURES
Stirling Senators v South West Slammers – Warwick Stadium 2pm

Photo by Vikki Hile