WNBL Finals: Back-to-back for Canberra!
The Canberra Capitals have won their second consecutive WNBL
title after a 73-59 victory over the favourite Sydney Flames in the
2006/07 WNBL Grand Final. This is a great achievement for the Capitals
who won this trophy without Lauren Jackson. Canberra's
Tracey Beatty (202-C-79) has been voted the game's Most
Valuable Player.
The game was very close during the first hald (39-39), Canberra took a
five-point lead at the end of the third quarter (50-45) but a 15-0 run
in the last period really sealed the win for the Caps.
Natalie Hurst (163-G-83) was the game's leading scorer with 15pts
but the MVP of the game was
Tracey Beatty who recorded 12pts 6/11FG 12rbs and 3bs. Four other
Canberra players scored in double-figures:
Tully Bevilaqua (12pts 8rbs),
Jessica Bibby(11pts),
Donna Loffhagen (10pts) and
Kellie Abrams (10pts).
Natalie Porter (185-F-80) led the Flames with 15pts but like the
entire squad she was glued in Canberra defense: 5/17FG. The entire
Sydney team only shot for 30.0%FG in this game!
Trisha Fallon (190-F-72) put an end to a brillant career with 13pts
and
Michelle Musselwhite (176-G/F-82) added 11pts
Canberra Coach Carrie Graf, who was also was named Coach of the Year,
attributed the win to her teams dedication and hard work.
"This goes out not only to this team but every player I have ever
coached," she said. "The players make me the coach I am."
While Sydney coach Karen Dalton put the loss down to a misfiring
offence.
"I think the better team won on the day," she said. "They
shot the ball better than us and that's what it comes down to in these
games. I don't think we responded very well offensively. Our offensive
execution in the second half wasn't fantastic. I think we gave up to
many offensive rebounds, missed alot of foul shots and we just didn't
execute offensively and get the ball into the right people's hands
enough."
All the players will now enjoy a well-deserved break except Canberra's
18-year olds
Abby Bishop (189-C-88) and Kiera Shiels (190-C-88) who will
be back on the court as soon as tomorrow in the U20 Nationals tournament
in Ballarat. WNBL Grand Final: Sydney Flames - Canberra Capitals: 59-73
Natalie Porter 15pts 5/17FG Trisha Fallon 13pts 4/10FG
Natalie Hurst 15pts 4/6FG Tracey Beatty 12pts 6/11FG 12rbs 3bs
WNBL: Hollie Grima named MVP and All-Star Five Team
The WNBL is proud to announce Bulleen Melbourne Boomers centre
Hollie Grima (190-C-83) as the 2006/07 WNBL Most Valuable Player.
Simultaneously, Grima has also been selected to the WNBL All-Star Five
for the first time along with Erin Phillips, Sharin Milner, Carly Wilson
and Natalie Porter.
Hollie Grima finished the regular season as the League's leading points
scorer and the League's leading rebounder. She netted 403 points
at 19.2 points per game and pulled in a season high 234 rebounds at 11.1
per game, including a League-leading 8.4 defensive rebounds per game. In
addition to 37 assists, 22 blocked shots and 18 steals in an average
39.7 minutes (of a possible 40 minutes) per game on court, Grima was
also the League's only player to average double figures in rebounding.
Canberra celebrating WNBA title 2007
