CHELSEA has secured a win upon its return to the top flight, defeating Wyndham by 11 goals in the Big V Women’s Championship. The Gulls defeated Wyndham 71-60, whilst the elevation for Pakenham Warriors was not quite as sweet, with McKinnon Cougars coming away with a 24-point win. In other results, benchmark side Bulleen Boomers crushed Hume City Broncos by 34 points, whilst Sunbury Jets knocked off Southern Peninsula Sharks by seven points.

CHELSEA 17 | 19 | 19 | 16 (71)
WYNDHAM 11 | 27 | 11 | 11 (60)

Chelsea opened its account in the Big V Women’s Championship with a win courtesy of a big second half. The Gulls won three of the four quarters in the match, and lead by six goals at quarter time, but it did not always seem perfect, with Wyndham scoring 27-19 in the second term to take a two-point lead into half-time. Luckily for the home side, the Gulls piled on 35 points to 22, coming away with the 71-60 victory.

Lee Burch put up 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists, leading the way with Sammie Simmonds (17 points, nine rebounds) busy off the boards. Also contributing strongly off the boards was Tamara Booth (12 rebounds), whilst Kelly Gardiner (10 points, four assists, four steals and three rebounds) hit double-figure points. Amanda Paschal lead the way for Wyndham with 14 points, nine rebounds, five assists and five steals, whilst Lyndsey Hoogenhout came off the bench for 10 points and nine rebounds, and Jamilee Pearce (nine points, eight rebounds) also tried hard.

SOUTHERN PENINSULA 9 | 16 | 7 | 18 (49)
SUNBURY 10 | 4 | 20 | 22 (56)

Despite scoring just 14 points in the first half, Sunbury Jets have somehow come away with a seven-point win over Southern Peninsula Sharks. The Jets trailed by 11 points at the main break, before piling on 20-7 in the third term to take the lead, and 42-25 in the second half total to win 56-49. Sunbury’s Nicole Cameron (15 points, 15 rebounds) was phenomenal, whilst Emily Conn (15 points, six rebounds) and Emily Ellis (seven points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals) also impressed. Fiona Darnell (13 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two steals) recorded a double-double for the Sharks, whilst Tamara Matecic and Eryn Rosowski combined for 27 rebounds.

HUME 13 | 14 | 19 | 7 (53)
BULLEEN 25 | 13 | 19 | 30 (87)

Bulleen Boomers have re-established themselves as the team to beat this season with a dominant 34-point win over Hume City Broncos. Bursting out o the blocks to lead by 12 points at quarter time, the Boomers had more resistance through the middle two terms, before blowing away their opposition with a 30-7 final stanza and recording an 87-53 victory. Five players notched up double-figure points for the Boomers, with Olivia Bontempelli (16 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals) and Tabitha Betson (12 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks) both recording double-doubles, and Kayla Vitale (15 points, three rebounds) busy off the bench. For Hume City, Harmony Harder was the standout with 15 points, 12 rebounds and three assists.

MCKINNON 18 | 22 | 16 | 23 (79)
PAKENHAM 19 | 10 | 13 | 13 (55)

McKinnon Cougars have started their season off on the best possible note, running out 24-point winners over newcomers Pakenham Warriors. The Cougars trailed by a point at quarter time, but got back on top after that to win the last three quarters. The second and fourth terms were particularly dominant, combining to win them by 22 points, and come away with the 79-55 victory. Rosie Fadeljevic (16 points, nine rebounds and three assists), Katie Bluzer (12 points, six rebounds and five assists) and Morgan Ili (nine points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals) were all amongst the best players in the win. Deanna Jolliffe lead the way for Pakenham with 12 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals, whilst Tarryn Wilkin (10 points, five rebounds) and Haille Nickerson (10 points, four rebounds and three assists) also impressed.