As a writer, commentator, podcaster and more, Darren had six D1W games to study, with a number of top performances across the league.
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Darren will pick a Player of the Week and four other selections to round out his Team of the Week, paying attention to the following criteria:
The FocusHoops Team of the Week
Trailin claimed player of the week honours thanks to her efficient scoring display in TVC’s victory over the Reading Rockets on Saturday. Three makes, back-to-back-to-back, ended a brilliant fightback from Reading by Trailin, who also went 4/6 from the stripe and pulled down a co-team-high six boards, four on the offensive end.
Saturday saw an excellent showing from Iwunze in a crucial win for TVC over Reading.
Iwunze finished with a team-high 21 points, including 9/13 from the stripe, having drawn eight fouls, demonstrating the trouble she caused her opponents!
Local derbies are always tense affairs, and Welham’s 23 points, scoring 50% from inside the arc and drawing nine fouls, was a key element in Ipswich’s win over ARU.
Welham capped off her double-double with a round-high 13 rebounds and a crucial five steals.
Jones-Aryeh was close to a guard’s double-double in CoLA’s win over Loughborough with 12 points on 66% shooting, eight assists performance, which also saw the Southwark star pull down five boards, swipe two steals and send a shot back.
Five points early in the second period helped establish the platform for CoLA’s win on home court.
Akra made a big impact from the bench in Brent’s road win over Bristol, with 12 points on 55% shooting, and added five boards and four assists in just 20 minutes of action.
No slouch defensively, Akra also swiped three steals in a performance that has a bit of everything.
Thames Valley Cavaliers took a huge victory this weekend over Reading thanks in large part to the trio of Chinwe Iwunze, Helene Trailin and Kat Goldsby, all hitting double-digit scoring, with Iwunze leading the way with 21.
TVC won every quarter after the first, and an Iwunze-inspired second period saw them go on a 26-0 run that lasted into the third period.
TVC made their way to the line 23 times and made it count in the victory, despite losing the battle of the boards, with another great game from Reading’s Lindsey Cleary.
CoLA Southwark Pride took a resounding home victory over Loughborough Riders by 28 points at home to signal their intent on the WNBL in 2023/24.
Five members of the Pride hit double-digits in scoring, with Felicia Jacobs finishing with a 12-10 double-double, Violet Stutz bagging 13 points and Chandera Jones-Aryeh with 12 points and eight dimes in a fine display of team basketball.
After a close first period, CoLA took control of the contest in the second and despite trading in baskets in the third frame they took an ultimately comfortable win in commanding fashion.
Lindsey Cleary (REA) - 21P/11R/4A/25EFF
Yazmin Edwards (IPS) - 15P/10R/16EFF
Jess Davies (BRE) - 13P/11R/1A/18EFF
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