AUS - Milner wins Nivea Player of the Week

MELBOURNE (WNBL) - Nature’s Blend Bulleen Melbourne Boomers point guard Sharin Milner has been named the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) Nivea Player of the Week following brilliant back-to-back performances in Round 14.

Milner top scored with 27 points on 9-of-17 shooting with 6 rebounds and 6 assists in Bulleen’s vital win over the Sydney Uni Flames last Friday and backed up the following night with a 21-point, 8 assist, 4 steal game in a 92-79 loss to Townsville.

She ranks in the league’s top 10 for points per game with 15.1, assists per game with 3.8, steals per game with 1.8 and field goal and free throw shooting percentage.

"We set ourselves for that game against Sydney Uni," Milner told WNBL Media. "We came back from the Christmas break refreshed and fit and that showed in the game.

"We focused on our game plan and executed it well. Our fitness and intensity really showed through and it was really good to get a win for Denchie (assistant coach Kirstie Dench) in her first game."

Milner, who averages 37 minutes per game this season, played all 80 possible minutes in Round 14 and admits she has been enjoying the extra court time of late.

"I love the responsibility," she said. "We all have a role to play, but Deanne Butler going down injured resulted in me getting more minutes," she said.

"Fitness is something we have worked hard on and I am able to play out the whole game."

The 162cm guard leads Bulleen in field goal percentage and in steals and is second in points, minutes and assists per game, but what of rebounding?

"Mum said it was only a matter of time before I hit a growth spurt so I am still waiting for that but I don’t think it is going to come any time soon," Milner joked.

"Until then I will just have to claim the two rebounds I usually do."

Currently in fourth position, one win ahead of Dandenong and Townsville, Milner believes Bulleen are serious championship contenders.

"At the start of the year a few people questioned where we would be at, but everyone plays their role perfectly and everyone fits together," Milner said.

"We have a lot of confidence in our group, so hopefully come finals time we can show just what we can do.

"We have every belief we will hold onto that fourth spot and we have beaten every team after the Sydney Uni win so there is no reason why should be confident."

The other noteworthy performances of Round 14 were:

ADELAIDE: Captain Sam Woosnam led all scorers with 15 points and 9 rebounds, Tracey Gahan added an 11-point, 11 rebound double-double and Jess Foley added 13 points. Foley was also brilliant in defence, restricting Perth star Carly Wilson to just four points.

AIS: 18-year-old Cayla Francis posted another double-double – a 15 point, 13 rebound, 3 blocked shot, 3 steal and 2 assist performance. 185cm Rebecca Schatz contributed 14 points and 4 assists.

BULLEEN: Over two games, defencejobs Opal Hollie Grima amassed 43 points, 29 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocked shots, while Kiwi Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe posted 28 points, 3 assists, 3 blocked shots and 2 rebounds and Desiree Glaubitz added 23 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.

CANBERRA: High energy point guard Natalie Hurst top scored with 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Jess Bibby added 17 points and powerful young centre Abby Bishop contributed 16 points and 9 rebounds.

DANDENONG: Kathleen Macleod bagged 32 points, including 4-of-5 from behind the 3-point line, with 4 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals. Larissa Cavanagh continued her consistent year with a 12-point, 7 rebound, 2 blocked shot game.

PERTH: Against Canberra, Carly Wilson tallied 22 points and 7 rebounds and Melissa Marsh added 11 points and 4 rebounds. Against Adelaide, Jasmine Finnigan and Crista Hays both scored 10 points and pulled down four and six rebounds respectively.

SYDNEY UNI: Over two games, 3-time Nivea Player of the Week Natalie Porter scored 40 points to go with 15 rebounds and 5 assists while former Opals captain Trish Fallon netted 38 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals and Eva Afeaki contributed 25 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocked shots and 2 steals.

TOWNSVILLE: Rohanee Cox notched a massive 32 point, 11 rebound, 3 steal and 2 assist double-double against Bulleen. Guard Tania Heritage scored 25 points in 40 minutes on court and Renae Camino added 16 points and 8 rebounds.

Despite those great individual performances, it was Milner’s game control and back-to-back performances for Bulleen that won her the Nivea Player of the Week for Round 14.

Basketball Australia