Break chance for Slammers to reassess

The Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers women may be two games inside the top eight, but their inconsistency is costing them and coach Darren Austin is calling for improvement.

Despite being a genuine finals contender, the Slammers have won only six of their 14 games and have won just one of their past five.

At the weekend they were comprehensively beaten by the top-of-the-table Rockingham Flames, despite star Samantha Whitcomb not having her usual impact.

Austin said he thought his side played some of the best basketball they had all year in the first half, but a second half lapse cost them dearly.

That lapse led to a 25 to 10 last quarter, which crushed the Slammers and inflated the 32-point margin.

"I thought we did a great job on Whitcomb, but unfortunately Jacinta Bourne hit 27 points," Austin said.

"I would like to think we missed some shots that we would normally have made."

Despite the heavy loss Austin is pleased with the progress of youngsters Georgia Denehey and Raya Thompson.

Thompson has entered the starting five since returning from State commitments and is averaging four points per game from her six appearances.

This weekend the women have a bye as the men travel to Kalgoorlie and Austin said the week off was always nice.

"We haven't any injury worries, but now we have two weeks to have a good look at Joondalup," he said.

One thing the Slammers will need to focus on is bringing form back to two of their key players, co-captain Kate Fielding and dynamic import Deonica McCormick.

Fielding has scored just 10 points and had seven assists in her last two games and shot at just 20 per cent from the field at the weekend.

McCormick was also down on her usual impact on the weekend and Austin admitted the two girls needed to lift.

"When Deonica scores about the 20-point mark we win most games," he said.

"Probably both are very inconsistent at the moment.

"Kate prefers to be an outside player and we probably did not use her right at the weekend."