Starlites, Luxol to face off in MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s League finals

STARLITES REVIVE            66

HIBERNIANS                       55

(22-7, 10-14, 18-13, 16-21)

Starlites secured victory over Hibs with a stunning first quarter to close out their playoff semi-final series sending Christina Curmi’s clan to the finals for a second straight season.

Statistically, Starlites’ win was built on their sharp conversion from Paolites turnovers and a well-balanced scoring effort.

Mikela Riolo led the Naxxar side with 16 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double, while Julija Dabic followed with 11 points and Michela Zammit Cordina put up 10.

At the other end, Hailey McLeod topped the game’s scoring chart with 24 points as Josephine Diaby added 14.

Starlites came out with intent, racing into an 11-0 run sparked by Mikela Riolo and Philippa Riolo, who both struck from beyond the arc. Former Starlites guard Sasha Lecuyer ended this early surge with her own three-pointer, while Diaby rose up for her first of two first-quarter layups.

However, Mikela Riolo and Zammit Cordina combined to get Starlites back up by double digits before a Georgia Haverlock layup set them up by 15 at the first buzzer.

The second quarter saw a shift in momentum as Macleod began to impose herself on the game. The Hibs import player cancelled Jasmine Abela’s opening drive by hitting a solo 8-0 run ahead of an Andie Saliba triple. Mcleod was again on target with a three-point play before Starlites attacked late on through Dabic, Haverlock and Rebecca Naudi for a 32-21 half-time lead.

After the change of ends, Hibs’ Saliba reopened proceedings with a jumpshot but Zammit Cordina responded with a three-ball.

Saliba and McLeod hit again for the Paolites, but Starlites hit back to push their advantage up to 20 points, one brought down to 16 at the end of the third quarter.

Hibs made one final push in the closing rubber. Diaby hit first while Makaila Napoleon drove up to keep up Starlites’ margin.

McLeod stepped up to bring it to nine points and threaten a lead change, but Dabic was on hand to help Starlites breathe again in between an Abela triple and a pair of Napoleon freethrows.
Diaby, Marie Buhagiar and Lecuyer all had late shots go through the net but Starlites cruised to victory at the final buzzer.

STARLITES REVIVE M. Riolo 16, C. Cilia, P. Riolo 5, M. Zammit Cordina 10, M. Fenech 1, R. Naudi 6, G. Haverlock 4, M. Napoleon 8, J. Abela 5, J. Dabic 11.

HIBERNIANS M. Buhagiar 2, L. Micallef, S. Lecuyer 6, A. Saliba 7, M. Bonett 2, H. Mcleod 24, J. Diaby 14.

Referees B. Vassallo, L. Silvero, A. Attard.

BETSSON DEPIRO              43

CAFFE MOAK LUXOL       53

(11-13, 13-11, 8-16, 11-13)

In the day’s second game, Olivia Wikstrom powered Luxol to a well-deserved victory over Depiro to book their place in the playoff finals.

Wikstrom posted a 24-point, 23 rebounds double-double in a show of force to drive her team to victory.
Impressively, the Luxol import player led the game in assists with four and had just the one turnover in a fantastic showing, held back only by a 14% three-point shooting afternoon.

As for Depiro, Claire Portelli led her side with 16 points as Sophie Abela followed with 10. On a unusually quiet performance from Lovely Sonnier, who finished the game with just three points, the Depiro import made up with 11 rebounds, shifting her game from offence to defence.

Depiro’s Nicole Agius fired in the first basket before Wikstrom fired up her hot hand with eight points before scoring from deep. Sonnier and Abela responded late on as the two were two points apart at the end of the first quarter.

The second rubber saw Depiro briefly edge ahead as Neve Borg struck twice from turnovers to swing momentum. Agius and Portelli followed with efforts that shifted the lead back to Depiro after a Gwen Carabott triple and no less than five Wikstrom freethrows. However, the two sides left for haltime at level at 24-24.

After the restart, Luxol began to pull away. Vanya Baldacchino and Fenech Pace duo Lisa Fenech Pace and Sarah Fenech Pace combined well to build a steady run, while Wikstrom continued to punish inside and from the line.

Depiro relied on Portelli and Abela to keep the gap manageable, but Luxol’s composure saw them extend their advantage to eight points by the end of the third quarter.

Depiro attempted a late push in the fourth, with Portelli driving and converting from the line to reduce the deficit.
Yet each time they threatened, the Violets found an answer. Rebecca Fenech Pace’s three-pointer restored breathing space, while Jada Said brought their lead back into double digits with less than two minutes to go.
Agius hit one last effort for Depiro with seconds to go but it was too little, too late as Luxol progressed at the final buzzer.

BETSSON DEPIRO S. Abela 10, N. Agius 8, C. Privitera 2, C. Fenech, C. Portelli 16, N. Borg 4, L. Sonnier 3, S. Deguara.

CAFFE MOAK LUXOL G. Carabott 5, E. Axisa 1, L. Fenech Pace 4, R. Fenech Pace 4, J. Said 3, E. Abela, S. Fenech Pace 6, O. Wikstrom 24, V. Baldacchino 2, S. Sciberras, S. Farrugia 2, A. Fenech Pace 2.

Referees G. Barbara, Z. Dobrosaviljevic, A. Attard.

PLAYOFFS

(After Game 2)

Starlites vs Hibernians                                    2-0

Caffe Moak Luxol vs Betsson Depiro                        2-0