Isaac
Years ago
LJ and Maher win WNBL January awards
Lauren Jackson and Tom Maher have been voted the Player and Coach of the Month for January in the Women's National Basketball League.
Jackson averaged a double-double across the month to win the honour voted by media and WNBL head coaches; in addition to an average of 28 points per game, the four-time WNBL MVP posted averages of 10.8 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and 2.5 steals across four games in January.
The Canberra Capitals have not been defeated since Jackson joined the team and she led them on a 4-0 winning streak last month.
Jackson earned Player of the Week honours in Round 14 after pouring on 33 points to defeat the Dandenong Rangers. The Jayco Opal converted 11-of-18 attempts from the floor at 61 per cent and grabbed a team high seven rebounds in the game.
She followed that up by nailing the game-winning shot to down the Sydney Uni Flames in overtime in Round 15. Jackson scored a team high 25 points in that encounter and added 13 rebounds, four steals and three blocks.
Sydney Uni’s Deanna Smith rated the second highest number of votes behind Jackson after a 30-point effort against the Capitals and Player of the Week honours in Round 16.
Maher claims the Coach of the Month accolade for the third time this season after also winning in October and December.
The former Opals coach guided Bulleen on a 5-0 unbeaten run in January.
Maher led the Boomers as they topped fellow top six contenders Townsville Fire, Bendigo Spirit and Adelaide Lightning in the month.
Maher’s biggest win of the month came on the road against the Fire. Maher and Bulleen inflicted Townsville’s first home loss in 20 games, a victory that confirmed the Boomers’ championship credentials.
Over January Maher’s Bulleen maintained their top-of-the-table ranking and remain the number one team in points per game (89), field goal percentage (48), total rebounds (44), and assists (20). They lifted to second from third in blocked shots (6), increased their 3-point percentage (35) but remained second in 3-point rankings, third in defence (restricting teams to 68 points per game) and dropped to ninth in steals but maintained their steals per game average (6).
Canberra coach Carrie Graf was the only other coach to achieve an unbeaten record in January and garnered the second highest number of votes for her efforts.
