Snell flies high for WNBL weekly prize

Sydney Uni Flames forward, Belinda Snell, helped her team to a 2-0 record in the Price Attack Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) over the weekend, and her sensational individual efforts saw her take out the Player of the Week award.

The 24-year-old averaged 19.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and had one steal across Round 11.

Snell and her Sydney Uni teammates started their weekend in Perth against the Drug Free Lynx on Friday night.

The 180cm Victorian native got her team out to a rampaging start, scoring 10 points in the opening quarter and putting her team ahead 24-12 at the first break.

She went on to double that score throughout the rest of the match and help Sydney Uni to an 80-53 win. Snell shot at 57% from the field and had four three pointers. She also had four assists, two rebounds and a steal to her name.

Sydney Uni then travelled to Adelaide for another sweltering, Sunday afternoon match up, and Snell had a double-double, scoring 19 points and pulling in 10 rebounds.

The locals couldn’t contain the firepower of their visitors and went down 89-83.

Snell was instrumental in the middle quarters of the match, when Sydney Uni were able to sneak ahead of Adelaide and then maintain that momentum to help them over the line.

The Athens Olympian played the full forty minutes in the 38-degree heat, and had five assists at game’s end. She also sunk all five of her attempted free throws.

“Snelly helps us at both ends of the floor,” Sydney Uni coach Karen Dalton said.

“This weekend she was consistent in scoring and rebounding and played some great defence, especially against Deanna Smith on Friday night.”

Snell is now in Melbourne, training with the Price Attack Opals squad in the lead up to March’s Commonwealth Games.

Sydney Uni’s two wins have helped them to equal Townsville’s win-loss tally and tie for fifth position.

Players of the Week are announced every Tuesday throughout the season with the 2005/06 League MVP being presented with a trip for two courtesy of Virgin Blue and the WNBL at the end of the season.

Other players in contention for the award in Round 11 were Jacinta Hamilton (Dandenong), Jenni Screen (Adelaide), Deanna Smith (Perth), Tully Bevilaqua (Canberra) and Jennifer Crouse (Townsville).