New recruit Chantella Perera will join the Dandenong Rangers after playing college basketball in California for four years.THE Dandenong Rangers Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) team last week announced its 2007-08 roster would be bolstered by the signing of two gun recruits straight out of the American collegiate system.
Six-foot-three (18cm) All-American player Kelsey Duoss has signed as the Rangers’ first ever import.
The University of Wisconsin-Stout graduate is a two-time Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year and is sure to be a force in the middle for the Rangers.
This year’s squad will also be complemented by the inclusion of emerging young talent Chantella Perera.
Perera was a member of the Australian Sapphires team which won a silver medal in the under 21 World Championships in Russia last month.
She has recently returned to Australia after a four-year playing and studying stint at Fresno State University in California.
“It feels good to be part of Australian basketball again after playing in the States,” Perera said last week.
“I am thrilled to be at Dandenong.”
Dandenong’s playing assistant coach Larissa Anderson says the Rangers are happy to have Perera.
“Chantella has been out of the Australian scene for quite some time now and we are really excited to be able to introduce such an exciting talent to the WNBL,” Anderson said.
The Rangers’ 2007-08 campaign will tip-off on Friday, 5 October against Bulleen at Dandenong Basketball Stadium.
