Although there were only two games in the WBBL Championship last weekend, there was still plenty of room for standout performances and this week’s All-Star Five sees a trio of Newcastle Eagles and an Essex Rebels duo selected.
Marina Fernandez – Newcastle Eagles
What a performance from this Eagles star on the weekend, as Fernandez went crazy with 22 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals against the Oaklands Wolves, who had been looking in resurgent form in recent weeks. Helping Newcastle to their second win of the season and just outside the play-off positions, Fernandez impressed with her leadership of the team as much as she did statistically, and the team will be looking to build some momentum as they face the Manchester Met Mystics on December 3rd.
Maggie Justinak – Newcastle Eagles
Still in the early days of her Eagles career, Maggie Justinak has shone for the Vertu Motors Arena outfit once again this past weekend as she posted a near-triple-double of 18 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in an all-action 35 minutes of court time. Whilst she trailed her teammate, Fernandez, in index for the game, she led the team in plus-minus and is certain to be a key figure for Newcastle as they look to fight their way into the play-off picture as the season progresses.
Katie Nolan – Newcastle Eagles
Averaging almost 17 points and 13 rebounds a game throughout the early stages of the season, Katie Nolan has been an absolute force of nature for the Newcastle Eagles so far and she continued her fine form on the weekend with 22 points and 10 rebounds in just 27 minutes of action, as she and Fernandez led the five starters in scoring as the first unit bagged 87 points between them.
Daniela Turner – Essex Rebels
In her third outing for the Rebels, Daniela Turner exploded with a fantastic all-round performance to give Tom Sadler’s side the dub in a low-scoring game on the road in Nottingham. Turner’s performances have statistically been improving by the game, but there was a huge upturn in output this weekend as she stormed to 23 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals with four of those five numbers signifying WBBL Championship career-highs! The Rebels are rolling at the moment, and Coach Sadler will be looking for more for the same when his team return to the floor against Oaklands on December 3rd.
Claire Paxton – Essex Rebels
Another Rebel who is rolling in the right direction, Paxton gave her most complete performance of the Championship campaign so far as she secured a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double in the win over the Nottingham Wildcats on Saturday. The Scottish Commonwealth Games star was at her most efficient from the field this season as well (45.5% shooting) and didn’t miss a beat from the free-throw line. A season-high four turnovers is the only blotch on an otherwise stellar performance from Paxton, who will be keen to keep on rolling when the Championship action resumes after the international break.
Off the Bench:
Kennedy Nicholas (Nottingham Wildcats), Antoinette Lewis (Newcastle Eagles), Grace George, Cassidy Gould (both Oaklands Wolves), Sune Swart (Essex Rebels), Chloe Gaynor (Newcastle Eagles), Andrea Kohlhaas (Essex Rebels)