Bishop averaged a commanding 22.8 points and 12.5 rebounds across the Month of November, cementing her place as the dominant player of the month by securing two Player of the Week Awards in Rounds 4 and 7.

The South Australian native celebrated her 26th birthday in style, producing a huge 31-point, 15 rebound game, with three assists and two steals against the Adelaide Lightning.

The strong play of Bishop, a nine-season veteran, has helped keep Canberra’s Finals dream afloat, with their 4-6 record (to date) placing them on the doorstep of the League’s playoff positions as we approach the half-way mark of the WNBL season.

The JCU Townsville Fire picked up their regular season play where they left off at the end of last season, surging to a 7-2 record to sit atop the WNBL ladder after eight rounds. Lucas masterminded the Fire’s Grand Final revenge against the Bendigo Spirit with a 70-67 win on opening night, followed closely by victories over the Waves (twice), Lightning (twice), Boomers and Rangers by an average winning margin of 31 points.

The Fire have turned the Townville RSL Stadium into a fortress, where they remain undefeated, with the club recording exceptional attendances at every match; a testament to the high tempo basketball that Lucas has implemented in the Fire’s system.

Player of the Month Top Three – November

1. Abby Bishop (University of Canberra Capitals)

2. Tess Madgen (Melbourne Boomers)

3. Leilani Mitchell (Brydens Sydney Uni Flames)

Coach of the Month Top Three – November

1. Chris Lucas (JCU Townsville Fire)

2. Guy Molloy (Melbourne Boomers)

3. Shannon Seebohm (Brydens Sydney Uni Flames)

Note: Basketball Australia invited members of the media to vote on the Wattle Valley WNBL Player of the Month Award and the Wattle Valley WNBL Coach of the Month Award. The awards are based on a 3-2-1 voting system to determine the winners. For the month of November the player and coach performances take in to account Rounds 3 through 7.