While the #SalsNBL is over, we still have some Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats taking the court around the world
In our pre-Xmas wrap on former Wildcats playing overseas we take a look at college basketball in the States as well as the Australian Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) season that concluded last weekend.
Toni Farnworth and Mary Goulding have both been playing in the WNBL during the shortened 2020 season. Toni and the Melbourne Boomers fell just short of making last Sunday’s Grand Final edged 65-62 by Townsville Fire in the semi-final two days earlier. Toni was playing her 13th season in the WNBL having debuted back in 2007 for Christchurch Sirens, an achievement that is testimony to her fitness, durability and commitment.
In contrast Mary played her first season in the WNBL and the rookie forward made a good impression for Bendigo Spirit. The former Rangiora High alumni’s best performance came against Townsville Fire when she scored 19 points on 9 of 12 shooting. Mary finished the season averaging 6.8 points and 4 rebounds per game.
2019 Wildcat Helen Matthews has made a good start to her NCAA Division I career at Wofford College. The ex Kaiapoi High guard has impressed sufficiently to start all six games for Wofford averaging 7 points and 3.8 rebounds in 26 minutes per outing.
Charlotte Whittaker is in her second season at the University of Colorado. She has averaged 17 minutes a game for the 3-4 Buffaloes, enjoying three double figure outings with a points average of 7.1ppg
Tsubasa Nisbet is at Georgia Southern University where she is playing her third season for the Eagles. Approaching 50 games for the Eagles the former Burnside High forward currently averages 3.6 points per game.
Unfortunately California State University Fullerton have had to put its programme on hold until the first week of January due to an athlete testing positive for Covid. Amiee Book and her colleagues will self-isolate for 10 days with the team unable to gather as a group until December 30 at the earliest. bIt’s hugely disappointing for Amiee who had started the season in fine form leading Fullerton in scoring, averaging 16.7 points in the three outings the Titans had played. Her early season shooting form was top draw making 7 from 15 three point attempts (48%).
Ashlee Strawbridge (College of Southern Idaho), Brooklyn Pouwhare (Utah State Eastern) and Molly Cockburn (Miles Community College) are also in the States with their seasons scheduled to begin in January.
Photos courtesy each respective team/league. WNBL Photos courtesy of the WNBL and Getty Images.
