By JARROD POTTER
CAPPING off an exceptional season returning to Australia, Dandenong superstar Penny Taylor earned her third appearance in the WNBL’s All-Star Five.
Scarcely sighted down under in the last 11 years, the 33-year old WNBA champion made sure her limited time in Australia was not for naught as she helped drag Dandenong off the bottom of the ladder and push the Rangers into a semi-final.
Taylor – who arrived in the WNBL after Round 4 following WNBA duties with Phoenix Mercury – lit up courts across Australia as she smashed 19.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game to give Dandenong a fighting chance in the WNBL championship race.
She was named at the two guard spot alongside Melbourne Boomers’ point guard Tess Madgen, Bendigo forward Kelsey Griffin and tall duo Cayla Francis (Townsville) and Abby Bishop (Canberra).
Taylor couldn’t add to her pair of WNBL Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards though, as former Dandenong Ranger Bishop was named the league’s best after a sensational year for Canberra.
Taylor wasn’t the only Ranger to walk up to the dais as Lauren Scherf was named Betty Watson WNBL Rookie of the Year.
The 19-year-old centre proved she’s on an upwards trajectory in the league as she expanded her season stats in 2014/15 to 4.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.5 blocks per game.
Scherf was gallant throughout the year as the Rangers struggled without an experienced centre after original signing Liz Cambage was sidelined with a knee injury.
