Luxol move closer to title with Game 2 victory against Starlites

CAFFE MOAK LUXOL         63

STARLITES REVIVE                       56

(12-20, 13-9, 19-18, 19-9)

Luxol moved to within one win of the MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s title after coming from behind to beat Starlites Revive in Game 2 of the playoff finals, opening a 2-0 lead in the series.

After their convincing Game 1 victory, Luxol were pushed much harder this time. Starlites led for long spells and looked the sharper side early on, but the Violets found the stronger finish in a tense fourth quarter.

Olivia Wikstrom led Luxol, and the game, with 29 points and 22 rebounds for a double-double. Sarah Fenech Pace added 23 in another strong attacking display and two boards short of double-digits. At the other end, Makaila Napoleon led the Starlites scoring with 18 points, followed by Michela Zammit Cordina who put up 11.

Sarah Fenech Pace gave Luxol a quick start with two jumpshots. Philippa Riolo and Mariah Fenech replied, shifting the score to Starlites’ favour, with Mikela Riolo hitting a three-pointer to open a gap, one which grew to 10 in the last two minutes of the quarter. Wikstrom hit two late freethrows to bring it down to eight ahead of the first buzzer.

The Luxol import maintained her momentum as play continued in the second quarter, scoring another freethrow before driving up to the hoop a minute later. Starlites struggled throughout the quarter, failing to find the target while Luxol caught up.

The Naxxar side did however give themselves some breathing room with a Zammit Cordina triple, before a Napoleon layup closed the first half with Starlites leading 29-25.

The third quarter showed the teams’ fight as they went tit-for-tat throughout the 10 minutes of play. Lisa Fenech Pace opened the second half scoring with a close-range jumper before Sarah Fenech Pace made it a one-point game.

Starlites opened th gap again and again through Zammit Cordina and Napoleon efforts, the latter taking over her team’s scoring as Wikstrom became the go-to shooter for the Violets.

The final quarter, however, was Luxol’s chance to dominate again, and they took that opportunity immediately.

Wikstrom gave Luxol the lead with five straight points before Fenech Pace trio Sarah, Lisa and Anna all contributed as the Violet’s lead expanded. Napoleon’s late efforts kept Starlites close but it was too little, too late as Luxol confirmed their second victory in the series, with the league title firmly in their sights.

CAFFE MOAK LUXOL G. Carabott, E. Axisa, L. Fenech Pace 6, R. Fenech Pace, J. Said, E. Abela, S. Fenech Pace 23, O. Wikstrom 29, V. Baldacchino, S. Sciberras, A. Fenech Pace 5.

STARLITES REVIVE M. Riolo 8, P. Riolo 4, M. Zammit Cordina 11, M. Fenech 4, R. Naudi, G. Haverlock 9, M. Napoleon 18, J. Abela, J. Dabic 2.

Referees Z. Dobrosaviljevic, M. De Flavia, W. Lim.