Only wins will make the top eight

The margin for error is little for the Printsync South West Slammers women’s team this weekend, who begin a critical double header tomorrow night against the Lakeside Lightning.

The Slammers had their chances during Saturday night’s heartbreaking 91-90 loss to the Joondalup Wolves, with a Makailah Dyer jump shot sailing wide right on the buzzer.

In 10th place, the Slammers are one of four teams on 18 points and will need to win along with getting a little bit of help around them if they want to return into the top eight.

“Nothing changes for us,” Slammers coach Nathan Grover said.

“We will still work hard and fix some things which we need to fix. But with the double header, we need to prepare pretty early.”

Scouting reports(Lakeside Lightning and Perry Lakes Hawks)

Form: The Lightning are favourites to win the SBL women’s minor premiership, while the Hawks are at the head of the queue of teams fighting for a place in the bottom half of the top eight. Ashleigh Grant (23 points, 14 rebounds) dominated during the 90-35 walloping over the East Perth Eagles, with the Lightning forcing the Eagles into a staggering 33 turnovers. It was a welcomed relief from a night earlier, when they were surprisingly defeated by a solid Joondalup Wolves. The Hawks enter the weekend on the back of a two game winning streak, although both of these wins were against bottom two opposition.

Lightning - League position: 1st; home record: 8-1; away record: 6-3; last round: lost to Joondalup Wolves 92-83, defeated East Perth Eagles 90-35

Hawks - League position: 6th; home record: 5-4; away record: 4-5; last round: defeated Cockburn Cougars 76-60