Slammers fall away again

Willetton Tigers star Sami Whitcomb scored an incredible triple-double as the Tigers handed the Printsync South West Slammers women’s side their third-straight loss with a 20-point win at the Willetton Basketball Stadium on Thursday night.

The Slammers once again conceded a half-time lead, scoring just 31 points after the main break as Whitcomb scored 37 points, grabbed 19 rebounds and dished off 10 assists in her side’s 100-80 victory.

Willetton started the game brightly, scoring seven points before Georgia Denehey (17 points, six rebounds and five assists) got the Slammers on the board with a lay-up.

But the Tigers maintained their momentum and by quarter time led by seven points.

The Slammers turned the game in the second term, scoring 28 points while holding the Tigers to just 14.

Charlotte van Kleef (23 points, six rebounds) and Courtney Bayliss (16 points, six rebounds) began to have an impact on the scoreboard, while the Slammers’ defensive pressure forced Willetton into a number of turnovers.

By half-time the Slammers led 49-42 thanks to a late run.

This would be the last time the Slammers would control the game though, as Whitcomb, Tayla Hepburn (18 points) and Desiree Kelley (15 points) began to find their feet in the contest.

The Slammers handled the ball poorly, finishing the game with 16 turnovers, while they shot at just 27 per cent from outside the arc, despite taking more than twice as many three-point shots as Willetton.

The Tigers’ pressure on the Slammers mounted and by the end of the game they had 12 steals and won the rebound count 48-39, with Whitcomb recording eight offensive and 11 defensive rebounds.

By three-quarter time the Slammers looked out of the game, with the Tigers scoring a massive 31 points and leading by 12 points at the break.

The Slammers fought bravely, but could not compete with the spread of the Tigers, who walked away with a comfortable win.

On Sunday the two Slammers teams will regroup to take on the Joondalup Wolves, giving them an eight-day break between games.