Randall smashes her way to WNBL Player of the Week

Dandenong Rangers forward Emma Randall has smashed her way to 26 points and an amazing 25 rebounds in Sunday afternoon’s Price Attack Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) match against the Perth Lynx, helping her secure the Round Five Virgin Blue Player of the Week award.

Randall, who is playing her second season with the reigning champions, moved home to Melbourne in 2004 after one successful season with the Sydney Uni Flames. Although sitting on the bench longer than she was used to last season, Randall was rewarded by coach Gary Fox this season and is playing more minutes, averaging 13 points per game.

The 188cm Victorian took all her chances in the match, shooting at 50% from the field (10/20), and making six from eight from the free throw line.

She terrorised at the defensive end, pulling 17 rebounds off the opposition glass, pressuring Perth's shooting with her inside presence. She also had two assists, a block and a steal to add to her stat line.

Randall also had a solid match in her team’s win over Adelaide on Friday night, scoring 10 points.

Randall will be hoping to get a call up to the Opals squad for the Commonwealth Games, which will be named in the coming week. Players from the WNBL are battling it out each week to prove to coach Jan Stirling that they are fit for the team, giving fans a tasty treat of basketball brilliance each week.

Players of the Week will be 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 Five were WNBA import Alana Beard (Canberra), Jennifer Crouse (Townsville Fire) and Katrina Hibbert (Bulleen Melbourne).