UNIVERSITY of Canberra (UC) Capitals have broken a Draft Central Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) Team of the Week record in Round 5, having a massive four players in the 10-player side after a couple of impressive wins in Victoria. Along with the Capitals, Adelaide Lightning and Perth Lynx both had two players following their impressive victories, with Southside Flyers and Townsville Fire having one representative. Melbourne Boomers, Bendigo Spirit and Sydney Uni Flames missed out on a representative for Round 5.

When you defeat the top two sides, it is always going to be a good weekend and the Capitals had that with five players considered for the Team of the Week. While Keely Froling narrowly missed out this week across the two-game average, the Capitals had a massive three starters in our team following the inclusion of Kia Nurse (21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists), Marianna Tolo (17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks) and Kelsey Griffin (16.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 4.0 steals) with Tolo making her debut in our team. Olivia Epoupa also made the side, earning a bench spot with 10.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 3.5 steals across the weekend.

Adelaide Lightning had two players in the team with Brianna Turner‘s 22 points, eight rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block earning her a starting forward spot, with partner-in-crime, Stephanie Talbot taking up a bench spot. Perth Lynx’ Katie-Rae Ebzery rounds out the starting five with a round-high 28 points, as well as four rebounds, five assists and two steals, shooting at 62.5 per cent from the field. She is joined in the team by her teammate and center, Maddison Allen.

Looking to the bench, Leilani Mitchell stood tall in her Southside Flyers’ loss to her former side the Capitals, while Abby Bishop backed up her effort from last week to make our Team of the Week again despite Townsville’s loss. It was a hard week to pick just 10 players, with Lindsay Allen and Cayla George (Melbourne), and Alice Kunek and Colleen Planeta (Sydney Uni) pushing for selection but narrowly missing out. Also in our thoughts for selection were Perth’s Lauren Mansfield, Townsville’s Darcee Garbin and Southside’s Mercedes Russell.

STARTING FIVE:

G: Katie-Rae Ebzery (PL) – 28 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 0 blocks, 62.5 FG%
G: Kia Nurse (UC) – 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.0 steals, 0.0 blocks, 45.7 FG%
C: Marianna Tolo (UC) – 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.0 steals, 1.0 blocks, 70.0 FG%
F: Kelsey Griffin (UC) – 16.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 4.0 steals, 0.5 blocks, 42.4 FG%
F: Brianna Turner (AL) – 22 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 47.1 FG%

BENCH:

G: Leilani Mitchell (SF) – 23 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 61.5 FG%
G: Olivia Epoupa (UC) – 10.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 3.5 steals, 0.5 blocks, 45.0 FG%
C: Maddison Allen (PL) – 8 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 0 steals, 3 blocks, 33.3 FG%
F: Stephanie Talbot (AL) – 16 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 40.0 FG%
F: Abby Bishop (TF) – 14 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, 0 blocks, 40.0 FG%