Luxol take lead with stunning opener win in women’s league finals

STARLITES REVIVE                       56

CAFFE MOAK LUXOL       83

(13-15, 19-18, 9-20, 15-30)

What began as a tight contest slowly bent Luxol’s way before breaking open after half-time, where the Violets’ pressure proved too much for Starlites to contain.

Luxol’s Olivia Wikstrom led the way with 28 points while dishing seven assists, as Sarah Fenech Pace added 24 in a strong display close to the basket. Impressively, both players finished with a double-double after grabbing 14 rebounds each.

Starlites had Makaila Napoleon as their target on offence, leading the pack with 18 points on a 63.6% field goal percentage.

Georgia Haverlock followed with 14 to round the double-digit scoring as the players with most minutes on the day struggled to find the net despite their efforts.

Starlites made a bright start, with Mikela Riolo opening the scoring before Philippa Riolo and Haverlock also found room in the paint.

Haverlock’s basket and free throw gave Starlites a 7-4 lead, but Luxol quickly settled. Fenech Pace and Wikstrom gave them an early way in to shift the lead to their favour and despite numerous late freethrows,

Luxol led by two points at the first buzzer.

Napoleon reopened play in the second quarter with a three-pointer to put them in front, then followed with a second-chance finish.

When Julija Dabic added a lay-up, Starlites had moved ahead and looked more comfortable against Luxol’s pressure.

Luxol, however, had Wikstrom. Her swift efforts from all areas brought the game back to her side. Contesting this was Haverlock who countered a late Luxol surge with three made freethrows to leave the teams just a point away from each other at half-time with a 33-32 scoreline in Luxol’s favour.

After the change of ends, Zammit Cordina twice tied the game early in the third quarter, but Luxol soon lifted their defensive intensity.

Wikstrom’s three-ball gave them breathing space, and after Napoleon cut the gap to one, Luxol began to squeeze the game.

Two runs in between a Haverlock layup made sure the Violets were heading into the final quarter up by 12.

Sarah and Lisa Fenech Pace pushed up the margin to 17 points when play restarted for the fourth, combining for five points with second-chance finishes.

Napoleon tried to bring Starlites back for a fighting chance, but Wikstrom and Sarah Fenech Pace had other plans, piling on the points to widen the margin to over 20 points midway through the rubber. Rebecca Naudi hit twice for her first points, but these were cancelled out almost immediately as Luxol kept their foot on the gas until the final buzzer for a 27-point victory and a terrific start to their final series.

STARLITES REVIVE M. Riolo 5, C. Cilia, P. Riolo 4, M. Zammit Cordina 9, M. Fenech, R. Naudi 4, G. Haverlock 14, M. Napoleon 18, J. Abela, J. Dabic 2.

CAFFE MOAK LUXOL G. Carabott 2, E. Axisa 2, L. Fenech Pace 7, R. Fenech Pace 6, J. Said, E. Abela, S. Fenech Pace 24, O. Wikstrom 28, V. Baldacchino 8, S. Sciberras, A. Fenech Pace 6.

Referees G. Barbara, M. De Flavia, L. Silvero.