The Melbourne Boomers completed the Australian Women’s Basketball League (WNBL) regular season with a 104-75 demolition of Perth Lynx in Melbourne on Saturday night.
All four Tall Ferns in the Boomers line-up made a contribution as Melbourne dominated from start to finish.
Kalani Purcell was at her box score filling finest adding 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals to 17 points on 7 from 9 from the field – her highest points haul of the season.
Toni Farnworth contributed 4 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists against her former club and Penina Davidson corralled 3 rebounds to go with 3 points.
Stella Beck has been a revelation starting in the point guard spot where she has had to take the place of the injured Lindsay Allen during the last month. Beck knocked down 3 from 5 from beyond the arc on her way to 11 points but it was her all-round game that impressed Boomers coach Guy Molloy.
“Stella has done an amazing job in Lindsay’s absence,” said Molloy.
“I think Stella probably feels great individually that she’s been able to step up so much and I know that the team has a lot of confidence in her,” he added.
Melbourne finished the season in third spot on the WNBL ladder with a 15-6 record, the same as Canberra Capitals who they will meet in the semi-finals.
That will be a best-of three series but will not take place until after the Australian Opals commitments at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in France (February 7-10).
LACEY LOWDOWN 