Perth Phoenix rising after claiming scalp of Edinburgh University

Perth Phoenix have scored their most important victory so far since entering the Scottish Senior Women’s League at the start of this season.

Reinforced by several former Tayside Musketeers, including top Scottish caps Yhana Van Wees and Paula Foster and Yhana’s younger sister Pippa, they defeated Edinburgh University at the North Inch Community Centre by 48-43, with Yhana topscoring with 18 points and Paula adding seven.

But equally important was the contribution of Perth’s young guard Taryn Cummings, who chipped in with 18 points.

Finding home venues and the cost of hiring them continue to be a problem for the Perth seniors who have now won twice and lost only once – to the very Cumbernauld Lady Rocks who several of them have just left.

Perth men were forced to call off their home Scottish League game against champions Dunfermline Reign, leaving both teams without a game at the weekend.

Meanwhile Kennedy Leonard, the 23-yearold Us-reared British International basketball player, has wasted no time in catching the eye in the German (DBBL) women’s professional league.

Leonard, whose Dundee mother was a fine swimmer who nearly made the Scottish Commonwealth Games team before emigrating to South Africa, is playing for Herner BC and was awarded player of the week for her fine display in Herner’s 87-77 home win over Heidelberg at the weekend.

Leonard scored 17 points, took six rebounds and gave four assists as she led Herner to their second win of the season.

While on a sports scholarship at Colorado University, Leonard had a stand-out record and caught the attention of the British selectors who included her in the squad for the European Championships in Latvia in June.

But though she played in two warm-up internationals against Slovenia and Sweden she was unlucky to be cut from the final 12 who travelled to Riga and excelled in reaching the semi-finals.

GB Women are due to play another match in the protracted process to reach next year’s Eurobasket Finals against Belarus at the National Basketball Centre in Manchester in Manchester on November 17.

But much more important will be the qualifying tournament for the Olympic finals in Tokyo next year due to take place in February.

Yhana Van Wees: Top-scoring for Perth Phoenix.