Hibernians seized sole leadership of the MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s League last weekend after defeating Betsson Depiro in a top-of-the-table clash, breaking the deadlock between the two sides who entered the weekend level on six points.
Caffe Moak Luxol’s emphatic win brought them level with Depiro in the standings, while Starlites Revive’s dominant display kept them firmly in the chase, tightening the race at the top after a decisive round of fixtures.
HIBERNIANS 75
BETSSON DEPIRO 48
(20-12, 15-14, 18-17, 22-5)
Hibernians claimed a confident win over title-rivals Depiro, controlling the tempo from early on and maintaining steady pressure throughout.
Statistically, Hibernians showed greater efficiency across the floor. Josephine Diaby orchestrated the team to finish with a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double.
Hailey Macleod led the points with 20 while Andie Saliba added 12. Maria Bonett and Sasha Lecuyer rounded up the double-digit scorers with 11 and 10, respectively.
At the other end, Julia Borg led the Mtarfa side with 16 points, Sophie Abela showing awareness of the boards with 12 rebounds.
Depiro opened with scores from Abela and Nicole Agius, but Hibs replied through Diaby before Macleod drove a strong run that flipped the lead. Bonett and Saliba added valuable points at the line, and while Julia Borg Xerri momentarily slowed the surge, Macleod continued to punish defensive gaps, including a three-pointer that pushed the Paolites ahead by eight at the end of the first quarter.
In the second rubber, Jasmine Mallia provided an early lift for Depiro, yet Steffi De Martino and Macleod quickly restored control. Celine Fenech and Borg offered resistance with composed jumpers as Depiro chipped away from the line near the end of the half, but Hibs retained a comfortable advantage at 35-26.
Claire Privitera and Borg Xerri made useful contributions after the break, narrowing the difference briefly before Saliba’s jumper reset the tone. Hibs rebuilt their lead through triples from Lecuyer and Saliba to secure a double-digit lead heading into the fourth.
The final stretch was a total Hibernians domination with the Paolites stunning Depiro 22-5. Macleod and Diaby scored freely inside, De Martino added another clean jumper, and Saliba capped a standout showing with a late three-pointer. Despite Borg’s effort to respond, Hibs took the deserved win at the final buzzer.
HIBERNIANS M. Buhagiar, L. Micallef, S. Lecuyer 10, A. Saliba 12, M. Bonett 11, S. De Martino 8, H. Macleod 20, J. Diaby 14.
BETSSON DEPIRO S. Abela 8, K. Fenech, N. Agius 5, J. Borg Xerri 8, J. Mallia 2, C. Privitera 5, C. Fenech 4, J. Borg 16, N. Borg.
Referees A. Attard, J. Siefert.
CAFFE MOAK LUXOL 93
VALLETTA DREAM 49
(19-14, 30-10, 25-12, 19-13)
Luxol produced a commanding performance to defeat Valletta on Saturday.
Olivia Wikstrom’s efficiency was the highlight of Luxol’s play, as the Violets’ import player put up 32 points and 13 rebounds in 28 minutes.
Sarah Fenech Pace followed with 11 points as Rebecce Fenech Pace maintained her consistent play this season with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds. Gwen Carabott added her name to the double-digit scorers with 10.
The Capital club relied yet again on their import Olesia Malashenko, who finished the afternoon with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Carabott opened the game with a driving layup before Malashenko replied from mid-range, but Wikstrom quickly seized control with back-to-back threes, followed by another from Carabott.
The Violets’ American player continued to punish the Citizens’ turnovers, adding a layup and further points from deep as Roderick Vella’s Luxol surged ahead. Malashenko and Nicole Montalvo put up some resistance through free throws and second-chance finishes, yet it was Luxol ahead by five at the first buzzer.
Wikstrom resumed her scoring early in the second quarter, and although Montalvo and Marie Pollaco chipped away from the line, it was a quarter that ballooned Luxol into a strong advantage with Sarah Fenech Pace and Ella Abela adding to more Wikstrom finishes to lead Luxol to a 25-point gap heading into the change of ends.
Albeit a better fight from Valletta, the pattern continued after the interval.
Hayley Galea struck from deep before the Citizens answered through Hayley Grixti and Malashenko. Luxol rebuilt their lead with a 13-0 run midway through the quarter, and despite a late drive by Alexis Cutajar, Luxol led by 38 at the end of the period.
Luxol closed the game with the same composure. Kelly Magro, Abela, and Adria Xuereb added to the tally, while Sarah Sciberras’ jumper ensured Valletta had no way back.
CAFFE MOAK LUXOL G. Carabott 10, K. Magro 4, E. Axisa 3, H. Galea 3, R. Fenech Pace 10, A. Xuereb 4, J. Said 2, E. Abela 10, M. Camilleri, S. Fenech Pace 11, O. Wikstrom 32, S. Sciberras 4.
VALLETTA DREAM M. Pollaco 7, A. Cutajar 7, O. Malashenko 14, M. Momcilovic 7, H. Grixti 2, M. Mifsud 4, N. Montalvo 5, S. Kankaras 3.
Referees L. Silvera, W. Lim.
STARLITES REVIVE 77
ATHLETA 37
(26-9, 12-9, 21-8, 18-11)
Starlites delivered a dominant performance to overcome Athleta, dictating the pace from the opening in a contest that saw Rebecca Naudi and Georgia Haverlock overcome the 20-point mark. Julia Schembri took charge on Athleta’s end as the side took the court for most of the time without import player Izabelle Booth, who only managed nine minutes.
Starlites opened at pace, with Rebecca Naudi and Philippa Riolo scoring off turnovers before Catherine Cilia connected from deep. Jaelle Micallef briefly lifted Athleta with a jumpshot, yet a three-pointer from Mikela Riolo and further baskets from Naudi and Cilia widened the gap quickly.
Georgia Haverlock added a three-point play, and late drives from Sabria Abugrin and Mariah Fenech pushed the lead comfortably into double figures by the end of the first quarter.
Pace dropped slightly in the second quarter, with both sides unable to put up any big numbers. Anthea Micallef struck first for Athleta, but Naudi replied instantly before Fenech converted another layup. Athleta produced short answers through Julia Schembri and Jaelle Micallef, but Haverlock hit twice in quick succession to keep Starlites in command. Naudi added a second-chance tip-in as Starlites closed the half firmly ahead at 38-18.
Haverlock opened the third with second-chance points, followed by another three-pointer from Cilia. Athleta responded through Sharon Vella and Schembri, yet Starlites’ control deepened as Riolo, Naudi and Haverlock kept pressing the advantage.
Amy Cassar Saguna added two points of her own before Haverlock capped the quarter with another confident three.
The final quarter was possibly Athleta’s best scoring quarter as the league minnows would not die down. However, Starlites’ sustained dominance ensured a decisive finish through further scores from Naudi and Haverlock, the latter hitting consecutive triples to end all hope as Christian Curmi’s clan won the game by 40 points.
STARLITES REVIVE M. Riolo 5, C. Cilia 9, P. Riolo 2, A. Cassar Saguna 2, S. Abugrin 2, M. Fenech 10, R. Naudi 24, G. Haverlock 23, J. Formosa, L. Marie Zammit, K. Gatt, A. Buckwell.
ATHLETA E. Farrugia 7, J. Schembri 12, K. Calleja 3, A. Micallef 2, J. Micallef 5, I. Booth, K. Abela 2, S. Vella 4, K. Abela, L. Camilleri 2.
STANDINGS
Hibernians 8; Betsson Depiro, Caffe Moak Luxol 7; Starlites Revive 6; Athleta, Valletta Dream 4.
