Hibs registered the first century of the women’s competition this season. They had no worries of losing their unbeaten league streak, as they grace the top of the standings.

Suns always play according to their modest standards, but they were satisfied with their tally in the middle two sessions. Hibs have now beaten Suns in three different competitions.

Caroline Fenech was again missing for the champions, and Suns introduced newcomer, Jennifer Mallia, in lieu of Nicolette Buhagiar.

In this match there was a foreign referee taking part, David Sutr, from the Czech Republic, who is in Malta to study English.

Hibs started the game with some of their bench players on court. A Francesca Bianco trey heralded an opening 12-0 run, as Bianco and Maria desira made the points. Ruth Farrugia stopped the run, but the Paolites brushed Suns aside till the end of the session, and a long 16-0 run took them free and away.

In the second quarter Hibs put in their established players. Suns actually kept pace at first, replying to the first two hoops, but the champions then made a 10-0 run. Suns replied once more, as Nicola Said, Graziella Santillo and Doris Bonello made the points. The Paolites?contribution came mainly from Doreen Micallef and the returning Lucienne Bezzina. At the interval it was 52-12.

After the break Hibs were still pumping in their points, but Suns also had their share, through Diane Falzon, also sinking a trey. An initial 11-2 run gave the Paolites a boost towards the century, and later on in the session they added treys by Bianco once more, and Francesca Tabone, for a 78-22 score, after three sessions.

In the final quarter the champions’ first five took over again, and sped over Suns with an opening 18-2 run. Suns’ last hoop was by Doris Bonello, just before Bianco made the century for the paolites. Hibs added on some more hoops for good measure.

Hibs: 21 Francesca Bianco, 20 Maria Desira, 14 Doreen Micallef

Suns: 8 Diane Falzon

Referees: Stephen Micallef, David Sutr

Depiro 43

Luxol 44

(10-16)(11-7)(12-15)(10-6)

This was by far the best match of the day’s long programme.

Luxol pulled off another prestigious victory, in the space of a week, beating off two of the main contenders for the remaining honours this season.

After Hibs, Depiro were the next victims, as Luxol, without their top scorer, just edged out Depiro, to avenge their Shield defeat, and lay their claim as the present top side. This was a prelude to the next meeting, in the BOV K.O. final. Depiro were always chasing the score, although they tied twice in the match, but it was scant reward, as they had to succumb to their second league defeat.

Sarah Pace, Greta Zarb and Rhian Spiteri all returned from injury for Depiro, and Luxol had Beverlee Zammit missing.

It was Luxol with the better start, at 8-1, and then they progressed to a 14-3 lead, before Depiro could recover, after a dressing down from their coach, Charles Bonnici. A 7-2 run brought the Mtarfa side closer, though the Violets still had an advanatge to fall back on.

In the second session, after Diane Muscat had benefitted from Mandy Sciortino’s incursions for Luxol, it was Depiro who put in an 8-0 run, starting with a Greta Zarb trey, and the score was tied, at 18-18.

Luxol rallied back, with a couple of hoops, but Zarb sank her second trey, to bring the two sides close once more. It was Muscat’s free throw. to help Luxol end the quarter on a slight 23-21 lead, at the interval.

After the break the Violets opened up their lead, and Emma Moore helped them to a 29-24 advantage. Rachel Camilleri took Depiro back, but they were hit by a Psaila Savona trey, as Luxol effected a 9-2 run. Camilleri came to Depiro’s rescue again, as her side went back in contention, although 33-38 behind, after three sessions.

In the final quarter the players were very conscious of the result, and points were few and far between for some time.

Luxol grittily held on to their lead, but lost Psaila Savona on fouls. Greta Zarb sank her next two treys in a row, and tied the score, at 42-42.

Ruth Spiteri went through the heart of the zone, to put Luxol ahead once more, and it was enough, as Depiro could only reply through a lone Joselle Cardona free throw.

Luxol held their last possession, and also held on to their top position in the standings, although with a game more.

Depiro: 15 Rachel Camilleri, 14 Greta Zarb

Luxol: 10 Emma Moore, 10 Mandy Sciortino, 9 Diane Muscat

Referees: Alfred Carbonaro, Jennifer Mangani

Sliema Wanderers 26

St. James Hospital 30

(4-8)(7-6)(8-3)(7-13)

St. James recorded their second league win, which gives them breathing space from the last two teams in the standings.

This was the first meeting between the two teams this season.

St. James’ lead was nullified after the interval, but they bounced back in the final quarter, to take the spoils.

The Saints swept into a two-basket lead, only for Sliema, once more without Leanne Sciberras, who has now missed most of the season, to draw level. The low score persisted till the end of the quarter, as the Saints went into a lead once more.

In the second session Diane Cassar extended St. James’ advantage, to 12-6, but Sliema came creeping back, with Samantha Tabone points, to a point behind. Before the interval Diane Cassar, with her third basket, made it 14-11 for the Saints.

After the break a Denise Hollier trey, for St. James, annulled an earlier Francesca Farrugia hoop for Sliema, but this was the Saints’ only contribution for this quarter. Sliema, though only with a meagre six points, managed to go in front till the end of the third session, on a low 19-17 score.

In the final quarter Chanel Galea put Sliema further in front, but St. James recovered, with a 7-0 run, through Barbara and Martha Abela, to forge in front once more.

They were pegged back by Lonike Calleja, but Denise Hollier’s points, including a second trey, pushed the Saints further ahead. Chanel Galea’s trey gave Sliema some hope, but Sammy Jo Barbara’s hoop sealed the match for St. James.

Sliema: 9 Chanel Galea

St. James: 11 Denise Hollier, 8 Diane Cassar

Referees: Alfred Carbonaro, Clive Terribile

Standings

11 Luxol (5-1); 10 Hibs Medsea (5-0); 8 Depiro (3-2); 8 Kerygma (3-2); 7St. James Hospital (2-3); 5 Sliema Wanderers (0-5); 5 SN Suns JC (0-5)