Emily McInerny won her eighth WNBL defensive player of the year award after another stellar season in the back court.By Glen Atwell
EMILY McInerny has won the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) Defensive Player of the Year Award for the fourth consecutive season.
It is the eighth time the 184cm world champion Australian Opal has won the award.
McInerny led the league in steals with an average of 2.6 per game and finished as the Rangers’ leading rebounder, pulling in 145 boards at an average of 6.8 per game, ranking her 10th in the league.
Despite her dominance of the award in recent years, McInerny still doesn’t believe the award should be renamed after her.
“It’s a thrill to win the award each and every year, but Robyn Maher (who the award is currently named after) was an amazing defender,” she said.
McInerny said she loved the thrill of having a big defensive role to play.
“Getting the hard assignments is always tough, but it’s nice to know I’m still respected by my fellow players.
“Hollie Grima (Bulleen) and Rohanee Cox (Townsville) were probably the two toughest jobs this year,” McInerny said.
McInerny, 28, said she would continue playing for at least another season.
“My aim is to make it to the Beijing Olympics next year,” she said.
“Then I will reassess after that.”
Meanwhile, Kathleen Macleod is another Dandenong Ranger celebrating a successful season.
Macleod topped the WNBL’s statistics for the best three-point shooter based on percentage, and the best free throw shooter, also based on percentage.
Macleod knocked down 14 from 33 attempts beyond the three-point arc (42.4 per cent) and a massive 89.8 per cent from the free throw line, netting 44 of her 49 attempts for the season.
Macleod has a big year ahead of her after being named in the Australian under-21 Sapphires team, which will compete at the FIBA 2007 Under 21 Women’s World Championships in Moscow.
