The 2025 MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s KnockOut semifinal pairs were confirmed on Saturday as Caffe Moak Luxol and Starlites cruised to victory against Hibernians and Athleta respectively at the Ta’ Qali Pavilion.
Luxol’s rout against the Paolites confirmed their intentions ahead of a tough semifinal tie against league leaders Betsson Depiro. Meanwhile, with their win, Starlites will move from one rookie team to the other as they are set to face Valletta Lionesses in the penultimate round of the competition.
CAFFE MOAK LUXOL 76
HIBERNIANS 37
(25-10, 15-14, 16-10, 20-3)
Luxol stamped their authority from the opening moments, with Anna Fenech Pace driving to the basket for an early layup. Lisa Fenech Pace quickly followed with a fast-break score before her sister Sarah Fenech Pace added inside points to push the Violets ahead.
Julija Dabic responded for Hibernians with a jump shot, but Anna Fenech Pace struck back with consecutive fast-break layups. Sarah Fenech Pace extended the lead from the line before Brandy Huffhines hit a trio of three-pointers, widening the gap.
Huffhines then added a jumper from outside the paint to stretch the lead to 23-6. Marie Buhagiar and Elena Cassar offered brief resistance for the Poalites, but Sarah Fenech Pace closed the quarter with another layup, leaving Luxol firmly in front at 25-10.
The second quarter saw Lisa Fenech Pace strike from deep before Josephine Diaby added inside points. Hibernians found minor respite through Maria Bonett’s free throws and a floating jumper from Cassar, but Huffhines sank another three-pointer, and Diaby scored off a turnover.
Vanya Baldacchino added a free throw to extend the margin, and Diaby remained a force inside with back-to-back jumpers. Steffi De Martino hit a three-pointer for Hibernians, but Ashiala Jackson’s breakaway jumper kept Luxol in control at halftime, 40-24.
Roderick Vella’s Luxol continued their dominance in the third quarter, with Andie Saliba converting off a turnover before Lisa Fenech Pace added points in the paint.
Diaby scored on a fast break, and Huffhines delivered from beyond the arc. Fenech Pace kept the pressure on with free throws before Diaby added a jumper and a three-pointer off a turnover.
Lisa Fenech Pace finished a breakaway layup, pushing Luxol’s lead to 56-29. Despite efforts from De Martino and Jackson, Luxol stayed in control entering the final period at 56-34.
The fourth quarter saw Huffhines strike again from deep, and Sarah Fenech Pace added a jump shot and free throws. Baldacchino scored inside and converted from the line, while Rebecca Fenech Pace joined the scoring with a jumper from range and another inside layup.
Bonett added a fast-break layup for Hibernians, but Rebecca Fenech Pace kept her rhythm with back-to-back inside scores. A floating jumper from Rebecca Fenech Pace sealed Luxol’s emphatic victory, marking a dominant performance from start to finish.
CAFFE MOAK LUXOL: G. Carabott, L. Fenech Pace 13, M. Marmara, H. Galea, E. Abela, S. Fenech Pace 11, J. Diaby 13, B. Huffhines 20, V. Baldacchino 4, R. Fenech Pace 9, R. Naudi, A. Fenech Pace 6.
HIBERNIANS: M. Buhagiar 2, S. Vella 2, E. Cassar 10, A. Saliba 3, J. Abela, M. Bonett 5, S. De Martino 6, K. Calleja, A. Jackson 6, J. Dabic 3.
Referees: Z. Dobrosaviljevic, M. De Flavia.
ATHLETA 68
STARLITES 97
(19-29, 10-22, 15-22, 24-24)
Athleta started brightly with Kennedi Williams driving to the basket and scoring early, but Makaila Napoleon swiftly responded for Starlites with back-to-back fast-break layups and free throws. Francesca Sant added a floater for Athleta, but Napoleon kept finding the hoop with a series of inside scores, reaching double figures within minutes.
Anthea Micallef levelled the game for Athleta with consecutive baskets, but Starlites responded with a decisive 12-2 run led by Napoleon, who scored repeatedly from turnovers and capped the quarter with a pull-up jumper for a 29-19 advantage.
Starlites extended their dominance in the second quarter, with Philippa Riolo striking from beyond the arc and Ylenia Bonett adding a floater off a turnover.
Williams kept Athleta fighting with a step-back jumper, but Napoleon remained unstoppable, converting second-chance points and free throws.
Catherine Cilia scored on a driving layup, and Sasha Lecuyer hit from deep before Michela Fenech contributed with three quick baskets. Despite Micallef’s efforts from the line, Starlites took a commanding 51-29 lead at halftime.
Napoleon opened the third quarter with a three-pointer, and Lecuyer followed with a fast-break triple. Mariah Fenech added more inside points, while Napoleon scored from turnovers, furthering her tally.
Athleta tried to respond through Williams and Kelsey Abela, but Lecuyer hit another shot from deep. Nicole Vella nailed a three-pointer for Athleta, but Starlites continued to break away with efficient fast-break plays. Lecuyer closed the quarter with a layup, maintaining Starlites’ 73-44 lead.
The final quarter saw Williams continue her fight, scoring from outside and at the line, but Napoleon hit back with free throws and a driving layup to reach 40 points.
Laura Camilleri added on the break for Athelta, but Bonett replied with a score from inside. Williams kept attacking, pushing her total to 29 points, but Starlites’ Fenech scored from a turnover, and Lecuyer added another three-pointer. Christina Curmi closed the scoring from deep, sealing Starlites’ place in the semi-finals.
ATHLETA: K. Williams 29, B. Agius 5, M. Ferrante 3, N. Vella 7, M. Cassar Pickard, F. Sant 3, A. Micallef 9, J. Cipriott, K. Abela 4, C. Caruana 2, K. Abela 2, L. Camilleri 4.
STARLITES: S. Lecuyer 18, M. Riolo 8, C. Cilia 3, P. Riolo 5, M. Zammit Cordina 4, M. Fenech 8, M. Napoleon 40, C. Vella, E. Jo Degiorgio, Y. Ferrando, C. Curmi 5, Y. Bonett 6.
Referees: F. Ciurariu, W. Lim.
SEMI-FINALS
Starlites vs Valletta Lionesses February 23 (tip-off: 13:30)
Caffe Moak Luxol vs Depiro February 23 (tip-off: 15:30)
Final: March 2.
