Screen shoots to WNBL Player of the Week

Adelaide Fellas guard Jennifer Screen blazed her way to 43 points over two Price Attack Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) matches this weekend, earning herself the Round Three Virgin Blue Player of the Week award.

Shooting at 58% from the field, 50% from the three-point line and 90% from the free throw line, defenders were loathe to give her room to breathe whenever she had the ball.

On Friday night, Screen led her team to victory against the Sydney Uni Flames, exactly revenge for the semi final loss last season. Screen had 18 points, three assists and a steal in the match, but most importantly had 10 points in the final quarter when Adelaide won the intense 10-minute arm wrestle to take the match.

On Saturday night, Screen, 180cm, sat for only three minutes against Townsville, scoring 25 points at 67%. It wasn’t enough to help her team over the line, but the Townsville crowd was happy to see the back of the 23-year-old at the end of the game.

She again shot at 50% from the three-point line and missed only one shot from the charity stripe. She pulled in five rebounds and dished out two assists.

“I was very pleased with Jenni’s performance over the weekend,” Adelaide coach Chris Lucas said.

“On Friday night she did a terrific defensive job on Belinda Snell and that effort took nothing away from her fantastic offensive game. It was great to watch two fine competitive athletes fight it out over the duration of that game.”

“To back up with another solid performance against Townsville was good, and a fitting reward for the way she prepares herself for every game - she plays both physically and mentally.”

Screen was rewarded for a solid 2004/05 WNBL season by being named in the Opals squad in 2005. She is now striving to be selected for the Commonwealth Games in 2006 and is showing great form early in the WNBL season.

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 Three were Lauren Jackson (Canberra), Natalie Porter (Sydney Uni), Hollie Grima (Bulleen Melbourne), Andrea Walsh (Townsville).