Wiese shines out like shooting star
AMERICAN import Sydney Wiese has produced her best performance in Fire colours to guide Townsville to a confidence- boosting 99- 62 road win over the Bendigo Spirit.
The Fire were sensational across the floor with Suzy Batkovic ( 20 points, 10 rebounds) and Cayla George ( 13 points, 12 rebounds) both posting double- doubles.
But it was Wiese who stole the show with her game- high 26 points – including 10 of 13 from the field – in a stunning return to form after hitting just one shot in last Thursday’s disappointing loss to Adelaide.
Wiese sparked a 25- 7 opening quarter for the visitors before Bendigo cut the deficit to 13 at halftime, but a 20- 2 start to the third term put the game beyond doubt as the Fire moved one game clear in third on the ladder.
The 22- year- old has a reputation as a sharpshooter from her college days at Oregon State, but Wiese downplayed her star turn against Bendigo as just part of a good team performance.
“Whenever you win, you’re doing something right as a group,” Wiese said.
“It was good to hit some shots. Everyone was in a good rhythm and so I’m thankful that some of my shots went down and that other people were able to contribute as well.
“We scored 99 points and so we were moving the ball really well, people were getting open looks, and it was a much different game compared to the Adelaide game for all of us.”
Fire coach Claudia Brassard was pleased to see Wiese starting to make her mark in the WNBL, saying the shooting guard looked so good against Bendigo that they almost didn’t want to give her a rest.
“She probably needed a sub at some point, but she was feeling it so ‘ Wrobes’ ( assistant coach Mark Wrobel) and I thought we’ll just leave her on and let her go for it,” Brassard said.
“It was really nice to watch her play and we know that’s what she can do. We can’t expect her to produce that every night, but glimpses of that are good.
“I know she wouldn’t have been happy with her game against Adelaide, not hitting one shot and that’s not like her. It’s her first season overseas as well so there’s a bit of a learning curve there, but she works hard and if her shots drop then we’re in a good space.”
Wiese, who also plays for the LA Sparks in the WNBA, admitted she’s still learning as a professional athlete, but she believed she had found her rhythm in Townsville.
“I’m still learning as a professional how to get myself to the right frame of mind going into each game,” she said.
“You find your rhythm in college and then as a pro you sort of have to find a new routine to get yourself there.
“It’s your job to make sure that you’re ready to play each game.”