Tuesday, December 13, 2005

I was on the road again last week and that has put me behind.

WNBL latest, the Capitals have played four games since I last updated.

They beat Adelaide 81-71 and wer led in scoring by Jenny Whittle (22), Tracey Beatty (21) and Alana Beard (17). It was nice to see some balance in the scoring for the first time in a while. Tully was the only other player in double figures with 10 points. Beatty did an impressive LJ imitation overall, adding 13 rebounds, 4 on the offensive end and she also chipped in 5 blocks. Beard had an off shooting night, going 5 for 15 from the field and only hitting 1 of her 5 threes, but she put in a solid all around game, adding 9 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals and an assist. Kellie Abrams struggled with the ball shooting 2 for 9 and committing 5 turnovers. Samantha Woosnam (19), Cherie Smith (18) and Tami Willey (14) led the Fellas in scoring.

The Caps followed that up with a solid 90-71 thumping of the Syndney Uni Flames. Beard's scoring touch returned to lead the team with 28. She had support from Jenny Whittle (19), Tracey Beatty (16) and Kellie Abrams recovered her shot as well, going 6 for 9 and adding 15 points. Beatty got a back to back double/double, adding 10 rebounds and 2 blocks. Beard continued her all around play with 9 boards, 6 assists, and 2 steals to round out her 28 points. The Flames struggled, with only Belinda Snell (25) and Natalie Porter (22) offering any scoring punch, the only other player with more than 4 points was Eva Afeaki with 12.

They took their momentum from week ten into their next game against the young ladies of AIS and set themselves up a solid 72-46 victory to continue their winning streak. With Alana Beard returning to the States, and LJ still out with injury, the Capitals used defense to maintain their winning ways. Jenny Whittle (16) and Kellie Abrams (13) led the team in scoring with help from Angela Marino (12). They outrebounded AIS 44 to 32, led by 12 from Tracey Beatty who missed her third consecutive double/double by a mere point, and 10 rebounds from Jenny Whittle. They survived their poor 16 for 25 shooting from the free throw line by never fouling AIS who only got 7 shots from the charity stripe all night making only 3 of them. Mikaela Dombkins was the only player to reach double figures with 11 with Abby Bishop adding in 9 and Katie Ebzery adding 8.

The Capitals are going to need some scoring this week as they take on leaders Dandenong and Bulleen in back to back games and they want to extend the current 7 game winning streak. They still didn't find any in their second game without Beard, managing to squeak by with a 53-51 victory over the Townsville Fire. Tully took over scoring for the struggling team with her best performance of the season. She led the team in scoring, rebounding and steals with 19 points, 9 rebounds and 3 steals. Jenny Whittle was the only other player in double figures with 13 points and 8 rebounds. Tracey Beatty disappeared after three solid games with 0 points, 0 for 1 shooting, 4 rebounds, 4 fouls, 3 turnovers and a block in 13 minutes. Fortunately for the Capitals, no one but Jennifer Crouse (18 points, 10 rebounds) came to play for the Fire.

Good news from LJ says that her recovery is on track, though she is skipping the Opals training camp this December. Suzy Batkovic was not selected for the Opals this year, nor was Penny Taylor adding WNBL players Rohanee Cox (Townsville) and Deanna Smith (Perth) instead. Capitals Tully Bevilaqua and Jenny Whittle were also named to this year's Opal's squad.

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