The new-look Werribee Devils made an immediate mark on the Big V basketball women’s division 1.
The Devils used the opening weekend to showcase new skipper Rohanee Cox and star import Sumar Leslie in an eye-catching 88-79 win over Mildura Heat at the notoriously difficult away trip to Toyota Hothouse.
Cox, a former Australian Opals player and the WNBL’s most valuable player of 2009, showed her quality with a double-double 28 points and 13 rebounds.
Leslie, a graduate of Nicholls State University in the US and a former Puerto Rico Pro League player, had a hot start to life with the Devils, with 22 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Not to be overshadowed, recruit Jessy Price was effective at the offensive end, with an efficient 25 points and seven assists to go with eight rebounds and four steals.
The Devils play their home opener against Camberwell Dragons at Eagle Stadium on Saturday
evening.
However, in the men’s championship, the Devils suffered a 98-83 defeat to Ringwood Hawks in that first game of the season.
Imports Jeremy Smith, with 28 points, 15 rebounds and six assists, and Fred Hunter, with 16 points, four rebounds and three assists, dominated the stat sheet for the Devils, while Nick Morda came off the bench for eight points in 10 minutes.
The Devils have a home double-header to look forward to this weekend, starting with the visit of McKinnon Cougars on Saturday night, before Diamond Valley Eagles land on Sunday afternoon.
