The Saints ended their first round of play with a win but they had to sweat it out until they broke clear in the latter stages of the match. Starlites enjoyed various leads over their opponents but they didn’t last the pace and succumbed to their fourth straight defeat.
The Saints absorbed pressure in teh early stages but emerged victorious with a sound finish to the encounter.
St Andrews had new signing Rachel Zammit Mamo and Nadia Cassar was back after her injury but Rachel De Martino was missing. Starlites had Stephanie Davies still injured and also felt the loss of Marilou Cutajar.
The two sides shared the first four hoops before Starlites went in front with a 9-0 run and an Ariana Grixti triple. The Saints replied with an 8-0 run of their own and a Josette Calleja trey as they went a point behind.
The second period was short on points and the lead changed hands twice. When St Andrews went in front it was Starlites a point in arrears on three occasions and the interval saw them 18-19 behind.
After the break Starlites opened up with an 8-4 run and jumped in front but there were Elaine Cutajar and Nadia Cassar to give the Saints back their lead. St Andrews then went on to register a 10-0 run and they opened up an advantage with a 33-26 score.
When Starlites tried to go closer it was Moira Caruana with a triple for the Saints. Starlites grittily returned at 34-36 with a Charlotte Riolo triple but were caught by a three basket spread. Riolo sank a second triple but the Saints held on and Caruana nailed her second trey right at the buzzer.
St Andrews: 6 M. Caruana, 9 N. Cassar, 11 J. Calleja, N. Scicluna, I. Galea, 11 E. Cachia, 8 J. Mangion, R. Zammit Mamo, R. Magro, 5 M. De Martino
Starlites: A. Farrugia, 6 C. Riolo, 7 A. Grixti, 12 S. Tabone, 1 L. Pisani, 4 C. Spiteri, 3 L. Pirotta, 2 N. Attard, C. Scicluna, 6 Ch. Scicluna
Referees: J. Mangani, L. Camilleri
Standings
Three clubs – Hibs Medsea, McDonalds Depiro and Luxol – lead on 13 points. They are followed by Alyssa Ashley Loyola on 11, Athleta on 10, St Andrews nine, Starlites Sports Experience eight and Guzelpinar Mtarfa on seven.