Two South East Queensland Stars will take part in an Olympic test event in Rio this week after gaining selection in the Australian Opals team.
Stars players Rachel Jarry and Bec Allen flew out for Rio after helping their side to victory over the Townsville Fire, where they were joined in the Australian team by Fire players Cayla Francis and Suzy Batkovic.
The event began on Friday with Australia defeating Argentina by 50 points 87-37, before going on to defeat Venezuela by a whopping 104-24 scoreline, as well as playing an unofficial scrimmage against Brazil on Wednesday .
Allen and Stars co-captain Jarry were named as part of a squad of 12 which will get to familarise themselves with the Olympic venue ahead during the tournament.
Both players have made comebacks from injury this season with Allen recently finding her best form with 21 points in the victory over the Fire.
Jarry scored six points in 24 minutes against Argentina, and and 11 points in 15 minutes in the route of Venezuela.
Allen scored 10 points in 13 minutes against Argentina and five points against Venezuela. The Opals played Brazil in the final game of the tournament on Monday.
Stars point guard Lauren Mansfield has been rewarded for her huge game in the Stars road victory over Townsville on January 9, with being named in the WNBL’s team of the week for round 13.
The young point guard who stepped into the starting role in the Logan based club’s inaugural year after key signing Erin Phillips was ruled out due to injury, flirted with a triple double in the 90-80 win, finishing with 20 points, seven assists and seven rebounds.
Mansfield shot a perfect 100 per cent from behind the arc, hitting both of her three point attempts. The pocket rocket also pulled down four of her seven rebounds on the offensive end and nabbed a steal on defence.
Mansfield is currently 11th in the WNBL in scoring at 14.53 points per game and second in the league in assist with 5.41 behind Bendigo’s Kelly Wilson.
The selection is Mansfield’s third, after earning team of the week nods in rounds five and 11. Mansfield recently resigned with the Stars for the 2016-2017 season.
The Stars play the struggling Canberra Capitals on Saturday 23 in Logan, which will be the return to the Logan Metro Centre of former Stars import Denesha Stallworth who was released earlier this year.
