Slammers women in tight win
Deonica McCormick stole the show in Kate Fielding's 200th Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers game, hitting 21 points as the women posted a dramatic 75-73 home win over Stirling on Sunday night.
Fielding's co-captain Bec Preston also enjoyed a stellar night, hitting a season-high 13 points plus four rebounds.
The win breaks a three-game losing streak and required plenty of character as Stirling came back hard towards the finish.
Fielding was unusually quiet, finishing with just four points, four rebounds and six assists in her milestone match, but she sunk two points in the game's opening play to set the tempo for an early 13-5 Slammers run.
Stirling began the second quarter with a three-pointer to claim the lead but a big quarter from McCormick, who hit nine points, restored a five point Slammers advantage at half-time.
The third quarter was the Tegan Walker and Amber Land show, as the Senators pair combined for a stack of offensive rebounds and second-chance opportunities.
Land ended the match with 23 points and 18 rebounds, including eight offensive boards, while Walker finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
Cassie Bates also had nine points and 10 boards.
Kelly Bastow enjoyed a good third quarter for the Slammers, hitting eight of her 11 points including two three-pointers.
The Slammers got out to a 10-point lead before some late Stirling points halved that deficit to five with a quarter to play.
Patricia Bright had the Eaton Recreation Centre crowd on their feet with a huge late block to deny Bates inside the final minute of the match.
Stirling had earlier reduced the margin to just two points with still nearly five minutes to play, but the Slammers showed character to never surrender their lead and secure the victory after a tense finish.
McCormick would foul out in the final seconds but finished with 10 rebounds and eight assists to complement her 21 points, which were shot at 71 per cent.
Her fellow import Bright ended with 15 points and nine rebounds and was heavily involved in the clutch plays at the end.
The Slammers shot 33-69 compared to Stirling's 21-68 but free throws kept the visitors in the game, sinking 25 compared to five.
The win moves the Slammers up to seventh, who are now three games clear of missing the finals.
A daunting away clash against the league-leading Rockingham Flames awaits the team on Friday night before a bye the following weekend.
