A hard-fought win for juniors

A double-header against tough opponents awaited St Mirren junior women due to fixture congestion.

With only seven players available, they lost narrowly at home against City of Edinburgh Kool Kats, before travelling across to Bathgate, where they met West Lothian Wolves.

Saints started well in Bathgate, with scores from Spanish import Africa Morena and Laura Collins easing the early nerves to give them a 5-0 lead.

However, Wolves settled and hit back with three good baskets to take a slender lead.

The game swung from end to end as both teams exchanged baskets.

Captain Shona McCrea i nt e rchanged some excellent passes with international guard Collins to score, before a fine threepointer from Morena, and a driving run from Collins, got Saints back in front.

Then a break from Wolves allowed them to tie the score at 14-14 at the end of the first period.

St Mirren introduced Emma Jackman at the start of the second period and were immediately rewarded as she finished off two free throws to give Saints an early lead.

Wolves stormed back with a couple of quick baskets to creep ahead, before Morena scored a free throw and a lay-up to keep the game ticking over nicely.

Eilidh Parker took a nice interception on the sideline to steal in for a good score, before a free throw from McCrea, and a long threepointer from Jenny Hall, gave the Paisley side some breathing space.

Again, the West Lothian side replied with points from Lemmon and Molly McHugh to tie up the score at 24-24 on the half-time break.

Morena then went successfully to the basket either side of a fine Collins break to give St Mirren a healthy seven- point advantage.

Defensively, Saints were strong, with little room from Wolves to penetrate, and this forced the West Lothian side to shoot from range, with Kirsten Clark and Abby Cowan grabbing much- needed points as they clung on.

With a slender two-point lead, Saints were happy to hear the buzzer for the end of a tense third period, with the score at 39-41.

Morena and Jackman set Saints off well, before West Lothian hauled them back again.

With Saints feeling the pace after a hectic weekend, Wolves started to take the game to their opponents and scores from Sophie Shepherd, Fraser and Cowan gave them a crucial advantage with less than five minutes left on the clock.

Jackman and Morena found some extra reserves to drive at the home side and suddenly the game was tight again.

Go o d b re a k awa y baskets from Morven Robertson and Hall kept Saints in the game as they found themselves under increasing pressure.

A free throw from Fraser and good basket from Lemmon gave Wolves a crucial three-point lead with only 37 seconds on the clock.

Buddies coach Leanne Renfrew called a time-out to calm her players and set out the closing strategy.

Back on the court, Morena took the ball just inside the West Lothian half, advanced strongly, before launching a huge three-point score to tie at 59-59.

Morena started the five minute extra period as she’d completed normal time, with a confidence sapping three- pointer, followed by a drive and layup to put Saints in control.

West Lothian were under pressure to stay in the game, but a final four-point flourish from the tireless Collins and a late basket from McCrea was enough for a 65-70 Saints win.