THE Rockingham Flames and Willetton Tigers have again emerged as the standout Women's SBL teams in 2016 and it was Sami Whitcomb and Louella Tomlinson delivering stunning performances in Week 8.

There were three matches on Friday night to open the round with the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers holding the Bethanie Stirling Senators scoreless in the final quarter to win 80-45 while the Lakeside Lightning downed the Mandurah Magic 77-67 and the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames defeated the Textile WA Perth Redbacks 94-77.

Then on Saturday night, the Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars beat the Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles 80-65, the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers beat the Perry Lakes Hawks 75-34, the Bethanie Stirling Senators downed the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 90-69 and the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames defeated the Mandurah Magic 63-56.

Following eight rounds of the 2016 Women's SBL seasons, last year's grand finalists have again separated from the pack with the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames (9-1) on top just ahead of the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers (8-1).

The Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves (5-1) sit third ahead of the Perry Lakes Hawks (6-2), Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars (5-5), Textile WA Perth Redbacks (4-4), Lakeside Lightning (4-4) and Bethanie Stirling Senators (4-6).

The Kalamunda Eastern Suns (3-5) are just outside the top eight ahead of the Mandurah Magic (2-6), Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles (1-8) and Print Sync South West Slammers (0-8).

The Week 8 Team of the Week is made up of Alison Schwagmeyer from the Lakeside Lightning, Sami Whitcomb of the Rockingham Flames, Adijat Adams from the Mandurah Magic, Candace Williams of the Cockburn Cougars and the Willetton Tigers' Louella Tomlinson.

Tomlinson was named to the Team of the Week for a sixth time this season and rewarded with Player of the Week honours following 21 points, six rebounds and four assists in the win over the Senators on Friday.

Then on Saturday night against Perry Lakes, Tomlinson had 21 points, 12 rebounds, nine blocked shots, five assists and four steals in a simply stunning performance.

Whitcomb was named to the Team of the Week for a fourth time this season following 29 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, three steals and three blocked shots in Friday's win over the Redbacks.

Then on Saturday night, Whitcomb produced 29 points, five steals, four rebounds and two assists in Rockingham's win over Mandurah.

Schwagmeyer was named to the Team of the Week for a fourth time this season after delivering 23 points, 13 rebounds, six steals and two assists in Friday's win over the Magic.

In that same game, Adams finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals for Mandurah to be named to the Team of the Week for a second time in 2016.

Then on Saturday night in a loss to the Flames, Adams had 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists for Mandurah.

Williams delivered another strong showing for the Cougars in the win over the Eagles on Saturday finishing with 37 points and 14 rebounds on shooting 16-of-25 from the field and 5-of-6 at the free-throw line to be named to the Team of the Week for a third time.

There were a host of other impressive performances too starting on Friday night with the Tigers scoring a big win over the Senators. Not only did Tomlinson impress, but Kate Malpass contributed 20 points, three rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals.

Zoe Harper added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Tigers and Desiree Kelley 11 points, six boards, five steals and two assists.

Then on Saturday against the Hawks, Malpass had 17 points and five assists for the Tigers, Harper 11 points and eight boards, Lara Napier 10 points and three assists, and Ebony Antonio seven points, six boards and four assists.

Taylor Bestry finished with 13 points, six assists and five rebounds on Friday for the Senators with Lyndal Gardner contributing 11 points, four boards and two assists.

Then on Saturday the Senators bounced back to beat the Eastern Suns with Amber Land finishing with 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

Kara van Dyke added 14 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and two assists for Stirling, Bestry 13 points and Gardner 12 points, six boards, five assists and two steals.

The Lightning beat the Magic by 10 points on Friday and Schwagmeyer had plenty of support with Devanny King contributing 18 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots, Courtney Byrnes 17 points, five boards, three assists and three steals, and Ashleigh Grant nine points, seven rebounds and four steals.

Despite the 10-point loss on Friday to Lakeside, Mandurah also received good showings from Annette Davis who had 19 points, six rebounds and three assists, and Rachel Halleen who contributed 12 points, four boards and two steals.

And on Saturday, Halleen top-scored for the Magic with 21 points to go with six rebounds while Emma Klasztorny contributed seven points, eight boards, three assists and two steals.

The Flames beat the Redbacks on Friday night not only on a strong performance from Whitcomb, but with Ashlee Sidebottom delivering 16 points and four boards, Jacinta Bourne 16 points, seven assists, five rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots, and Amanda Pether 14 points and four rebounds.

And on Saturday night in the win over the Magic, Bourne finished with 10 points and six boards for Rockingham, Sidebottom nine points and four rebounds, and Pether six points and nine boards.

Rebecca Mercer had a good game for the Redbacks on Friday with 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists while nailing 3-of-4 from long range. Jess Jakens added 14 points and 10 rebounds for Perth, Ashley Gilmore 11 points and 12 boards, and Ajay Jones 10 points.

As well as Williams' performance for the Cougars on Saturday, Cherridy Thornton added 11 points and six boards, Chelsea Evans nine points and Kristen Everard nine points.

Jodee Sontay top-scored for the Eagles with 25 points and four rebounds with Elainah Coffin contributing 16 points.

The Hawks lost to the Tigers on Saturday despite 10 points, four rebounds and three steals from Mia Satie, nine points and eight rebounds from Brieana Nolan and seven points and eight rebounds from Sarah Donovan.

The Suns went down to the Senators on Saturday with Carley Mijovic impressing with 25 points and 13 rebounds. Sarah-Jane McMahon added 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Rebecca Motroni nine points and four steals.

WEEK 8 WOMEN'S TEAM OF THE WEEK
Alison Schwagmeyer (Lakeside Lightning)
Sami Whitcomb (Orange Autos Rockingham Flames)
Adijat Adams (Mandurah Magic)
Candace Williams (Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars)
Louella Tomlinson (Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers)

WEEK 8 WOMEN'S PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Louella Tomlinson (Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers)

FRIDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Bethanie Stirling Senators 45 lost to Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers 80
Lakeside Lightning 77 defeated Mandurah Magic 67
Textile WA Perth Redbacks 77 lost to Orange Autos Rockingham Flames 94

SATURDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles 65 lost to Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars 80
Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers 75 defeated Perry Lakes Hawks 34
Kalamunda Eastern Suns 69 lost to Bethanie Stirling Senators 90
Orange Autos Rockingham Flames 63 defeated Mandurah Magic 56

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by June Halliday