WE are down to one unbeaten and two winless teams in the Women's SBL for 2016 after the Joondalup Wolves again handed a club their first loss on the weekend, this time the Perry Lakes Hawks in a thriller on Saturday night.

Fresh off handing the Texture WA Perth Redbacks their first loss eight days earlier, the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves beat the previously unbeaten Perry Lakes Hawks 68-67 at Joondalup Basketball Stadium on Saturday night.

The round got underway on Friday night at Lakeside Recreation Centre with the Lakeside Lightning beating the Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles 61-40.

Then also on Saturday night, the Bethanie Stirling Senators defeated the Perth Redbacks 76-68, the Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars downed the Print Sync South West Slammers 98-67 and the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers prevailed over the Mandurah Magic 78-67.

At the end of Week 5 the Willetton Tigers remain the only unbeaten team in the Women's SBL with a 5-0 record. At the other end of the standings, the South West Slammers and East Perth Eagles remain without a win following five attempts each.

In between, the defending champion Rockingham Flames hold a 5-1 record ahead of the Perry Lakes Hawks (4-1), Joondalup Wolves (3-1), Perth Redbacks (3-2), Mandurah Magic (2-2), Stirling Senators (3-4), Lakeside Lightning (2-3), Kalamunda Eastern Suns (2-3) and Cockburn Cougars (2-4).

The Week 5 Team of the Week is made up of Alison Schwagmeyer from the Lakeside Lightning, Klara Wischer of the Joondalup Wolves, Deanna Smith from the Perry Lakes Hawks, Candace Williams from the Cockburn Cougars and Louella Tomlinson from the Willetton Tigers.

Schwagmeyer was named to the Team of the Week for a second time this season in her first year at Lakeside after 15 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals in Friday's 21-point win over the Eagles.

Wischer was named to the Team of the Week for the first time in 2016 having played a key role in the Lady Wolfpack's thrilling one-point win over the Hawks at Joondalup Basketball Stadium.

She finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds on shooting 9-of-17 from the floor.

Smith made the Team of the Week for a third consecutive round on the back of 28 points, seven rebounds and three assists for Perry Lakes shooting 8-of-18 from the field, 2-of-4 from deep and a perfect 10-of-10 at the line.

Williams put in a monster performance to lead the Cougars to a 31-point win over the Slammers at Eaton Recreation Centre with 30 points, 16 rebounds and three assists on 11-of-23 shooting from the field, and 8-of-9 at the foul line.

Tomlinson made the Team of the Week for a third time from five rounds this season and she did miss the opening week due to Perth Lynx being in the WNBL grand final.

She had another 21 points, six rebounds, four blocked shots and two steals in Saturday's 11-point win at Mike Barnett Sports Complex over the Magic.

They weren’t the only stars from the weekend either and on Friday night, Ashleigh Grant finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots for the Lightning.

Devanny King also had 13 points and boards for Lakeside and Courtney Byrnes 11 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Gemma Houghton top-scored off the bench for the Eagles with 14 points to go with six rebounds and five steals.

Then on Saturday night, as well as Wischer's performance for the Wolves they had Ellyce Ironmonger contributing 16 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals with Nikita-Lee Martin adding 12 points, eight boards and six assists.

And also for the Hawks, Sarah Donovan contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Kate Anthony 12 points.

The Senators were able to hand the Redbacks their second loss in as many weeks with Taylor Bestry top-scoring for Stirling with 17 points and six rebounds with Amber Land contributing 13 points and 10 boards, and Lyndal Gardner 11 points.

Jess Jakens led the way for the Redbacks with 18 points and 11 rebounds with Ashley Gilmore contributing 14 points and nine boards, Rebecca Mercer 10 points and Lisa Wallbutton nine to go with 15 boards.

As well as Williams' starring role for the Cougars against the Slammers, Cherridy Thornton was a strong performer with 19 points and 10 rebounds with Taryn Priestly adding 15 points and Kristen Everard 12.

Courtney Bayliss top-scored for the Slammers off the bench with 21 points and 11 rebounds while nailing 5-of-9 from three-point range. Dena English added 20 points, seven rebounds and three assists for South West.

As well as Tomlinson having a big performance for the Tigers against the Magic, Kate Malpass put up 20 points from the bench to go with four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Ebony Antonio also had 13 points and Desiree Kelley 11.

Rachel Halleen top-scored for the Magic with 19 points and eight rebounds while Adijat Adams contributed 17 points, 11 boards, three blocks and two steals. Bree Klasztorny added 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.

WEEK 5 WOMEN'S TEAM OF THE WEEK
Alison Schwagmeyer (Lakeside Lightning)
Klara Wischer (Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves)
Deanna Smith (Perry Lakes Hawks)
Candace Williams (Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars)
Louella Tomlinson (Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers)

FRIDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Lakeside Lightning 61 defeated Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles 40

SATURDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves 68 defeated Perry Lakes Hawks 67
Bethanie Stirling Senators 76 defeated Texture WA Perth Redbacks 68
Print Sync South West Slammers 67 lost to Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars 98
Mandurah Magic 67 lost to Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers 78

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Mick Cronin