New Mandurah Magic import Taylor Brown is looking to make her mark as the side charges towards yet another finals appearance in the 2019 season.
Having just come into the team midway through the season after the departure of gun centre Regina Palusna opened the door for a roster spot, the score-first point guard will be hoping to spur the team up the standings.
She hit the ground running over the weekend, tallying 15 points coming off the bench in her first game before gathering a further 16 after joining the starting line-up the day after in a double-header of wins.
The cameo was a small glimpse of what Brown feels she has to offer the Magic, describing her own game as "fast and crafty."
"I really liked that I came off the bench in my first game. It just made me feel really comfortable being able to get a look in at how the team operates," she said.
"I felt a little nervous early in the first game - I think I had three fouls in the first half and I had some things to adjust to.
"But once I got in rhythm I felt good, and now I'm feeling like I can be a big contributor for this team."
Brown hails from Bowie, Maryland, and was a star at the collegiate level in a two-year stint at Georgetown University before switching to George Mason University.
She averaged stunning numbers of 21 points, three assists and five rebounds in her first year with the latter, good enough for selection to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference second team in 2014/15.
She was crowned the George Mason University female student-athlete of the year in both 2015 and 2016.
From college in the USA she made her way to play professionally in both Iceland and Luxembourg.
It's an impressive resume Brown hopes translates to success here in WA's State Basketball League, as she looks to push the Mandurah women's outfit to the next level.
"I obviously haven't had much time here but already I can tell these guys work hard," she said.
"They're tough, they grab the rebounds, they do all the hard things that are the hallmarks of being a good basketball team, so hopefully I can add to that.
"I know they've come close to a championship a few times and come up just short, so I'd love to be the one that can push them to the win.
"If I can win a title in my time in Australia, I'd be really happy."
The Mandurah Magic women are back in action this Friday night, taking on the East Perth Eagles at the Herb Graham Recreation Centre at 6.30pm.
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
