State Basketball League: Mandurah Magic’s Anita Brown notches first SBL player of the week honour

Brown has been a force since kicking off her time in the State Basketball League a month ago, averaging 23 points per game (good enough for fourth in the league) at a 51.28 field goal percentage to go with 5.5 rebounds.

But her performance against Willetton was head and shoulders above the rest, with her 26 points, nine rebounds and five steals guiding Mandurah to a huge win with star centre Carly Boag nursing an injury on the sideline.

The University of Akron star shouldered the scoring load against the perennially outstanding Tigers, with her performance keeping Mandurah’s unbeaten start to the season alive.

The award is made even sweeter given Brown picked it up while facing off against league powerhouse Sami Whitcomb, who had taken out the player of the week award for the first three weeks of the season.

Brown went into the game knowing a stellar performance was required, and said she was thrilled the team got the win.

“We all knew it was going to be a big challenge. She (Whitcomb) was putting up some insane numbers and we needed a team effort to stop that,” she said.

“Thankfully I was able to do enough to help the team, and we came out on top.”

When asked to reflect on her game, Brown had nothing but praise for her teammates.

“I was actually pretty down on myself after the game – I feel like I missed some easy shots in the fourth quarter and got some bad turnovers, but my teammates picked me up.

“I’m only four weeks into playing with these guys and I feel right at home, so all credit goes to them.”

Brown and the Magic are now gearing up for their first double-header of the year, taking on Cockburn and Stirling this weekend.

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