Hibernians     77     Arms Depiro     55

 (21-12, 24-17, 17-17, 15-9)

This was the start of the Women's league campaign, but the Paolites had already beaten Depiro twice, in the Independence Cup and the MBA Shield. This third victory gave them the first points of the long league road. They had already established a solid advantage till the interval, and although Depiro stuck to their task, and reduced their deficit, going nearer, after the break, Hibs took over once again, to open up a better lead, and finish comfortable winners. The Poalites had Julia Verri back from abroad, but Leanne Duncan was still missing, with her place taken by the young Serbian, Julija Dabic, on her debut in the top division. Depiro were without Denise Said Hollier, with Emily Cassar going back into the side.

Hibs' opening brace of hoops had Claire Ciantar reacting twice for Depiro. The Paolites then opened a better advantage with a 12-2 run, as Naomi Farrugia sank a couple of treys, with Jasmine Abela also netting her trey, in between. Later on, Farrugia obtained her hat trick of treys, with Depiro pulling back two buckets, before the end of the session. In the next period Sam Brincat got into the act, for the Paolites, with back to back hoops, and American, Hannah Johnson, who finished as the game's top scorer, then netted a trio of free throws, for Depiro. Iona Agius and Xerri extended Hibs' lead, with Depiro then managing to reply to every Paolite point after. Two late buckets gave Hibs a heavy 45-29 advantage, till the interval.

After the break, Depiro displayed their best form of the match, as they cut down on their deficit, with an opening 12-2 run, which brought them quite near to their adversaries. The Paolites reacted well, to surge forward, and Ashleigh Van Vliet and Xerri established another good lead, despite Martina Scicluna's triple, for Depiro. Hibs put in a three hoop spread, before the end of the session, to head into the last quarter on a solid 62-46 advantage. They followed up with yet another three-bucket spread, and the game was over. Depiro managed to hike up their score a little, as Johnson also sank a trey, but Hibs replied to every point that their opponents obtained. Van Vliet found time to nail her triple, before the end of the match.

Hibs: I. Agius 8, J. Xerri 15, A. Van Vliet 14, S. Brincat 6, J. Dabic, J. Abela 9, K. Calleja 2, Y. Bonett 6, N. Farrugia 9, E. Farrugia, K. Caruana 4, M. Buhagiar 4

Depiro: No. Agius, T. Mifsud  2, N. Agius 9, N. Borg 1, J. Borg 6, N. Ebejer 2, M. Scicluna 3, C. Ciantar 8, S. Farrugia, N. Hili, H. Johnson 22,  E. Cassar 2

Referees: Z. Dobrosavljevic, K. Dworniczak, L. Camilleri